Coalition denies shrine blast
2004-05-25 18:40
Baghdad - Coalition forces had no involvement in a mortar attack on Shiite Islam's holiest shrine in the central Iraqi city of Najaf on Tuesday, a US general said.
"The coalition forces had no involvement in the damage to Imam Ali mosque" US Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, the top coalition military spokesperson, told reporters here.
A mortar round exploded inside the shrine injuring 10 people and damaging the upper part of one of the main gold-covered gates leading to the tomb of revered Shiite Imam Ali.
Kimmitt said the attack may have been a result of fighting between Iraqi factions or a ploy by militias loyal to radical cleric Moqtada Sadr to "provoke outrage so they can blame it on coalition forces".
- AFP