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At least 69 killed in explosions in Baghdad mosque: report+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)CAIRO, April 7_(Kyodo) _ At least 69 people were killed and around 140 others injured in explosions at a Shiite mosque in Baghdad on Friday, Iraq's TV station Al-Iraqiya reported, quoting health ministry officials. Reuters news service, quoting police, reported three suicide bombers dressed as women blew themselves up at the mosque in northern Baghdad. Initial reports said the explosions were caused by mortal fire, but police Lt. Col. Falah al-Mohammedawi said police had confirmed they were suicide attacks, according to the Associated Press. Friday's attacks follow one the previous day in which a car bomb exploded near a Shiite shrine in the southern city of Najaf, killing at least 13 people. The attacks Friday may increase tensions between Sunni and Shittee Muslims. "The Shiites are the target and it's a sectarian act. There is nothing to justify this act but black sectarian hatred," Reuters quoted SCIRI leader Jalal al-Deen, who was at the mosque during the explosions as saying. The SCIRI is the most powerful group inside Iraq's ruling Shiite Alliance. |