Fuelling sectarianism:

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Iraq's Askari shrine, one of the holiest sites for Shia Muslims, was attacked Wednesday morning. The once-golden minarets of the shrine were completely destroyed in the bomb blasts.

It is the second attack on the 100-year-old shrine. In February 2006, assailants wearing uniforms detonated two bombs inside the shrine, destroying the top of its landmark dome and spawning mass protests and reprisal attacks against dozens of Sunni mosques.

According to Al-Jazeera, the latest attack against the heavily fortified shrine was the work of infiltrators in the Ministry of Interior team charged with its protection. A new security team had recently arrived from Baghdad to replace the existing guards. Witnesses claim members of the new team then bombed the shrine.

The Interior Ministry has been frequently criticised by Iraqis for allowing death squads to operate within its security forces. (see p.6)

Caption:

C a p t i o n :

Al-Ahram Weekly Online : Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/849/fr4.htm