Iraq Friday congregations slam attempts of creating rift in unity

By: Hamoud Kufi

BAGHDAD, Iraq: Iraqi Friday congregations regardless of any differences unanimously condemned attempts of flaring sectarianism in the country in a bid to create rift among shia, sunni brethren vowing to thwart such conspiracies.

The Friday prayer leaders denounced a deadly raid on a mosque in Baghdad’s Adhamiya neighborhood last week.

Speaking in the same mosque Friday, the head of religious endowment demanded guarantees that mosques would “never again be desecrated”.

Sheikh Abdol Hadi Karbalai, a representative of Ayatullah Ali As-Sistani, joined the chorus during his sermon in the holy city of Karbala, home to the holy shrines of Al-Imam Al-Hussain bin Ali (p) and Al-Abbas bin Ali (p).

The Council of Muslim Scholars accused the US military of plotting the Abu Hanifa Mosque raid during a sermon delivered in Baghdad by Sheikh Abdol Ghafur As-Samarrai.

In the holy city of Najaf, which houses the holy mausoleum of Al-Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (p), Sayyed Sadroddin Al-Qabanji condemning murder of clerics in Mosul termed it a conspiracy against Iraqi nation. “We condemn operations of abduction of foreigners and Arabs, raids on mosques and using these holy places as stores of weapons.”

Meanwhile, US-led forces rounded up scores of terrorists in Iraq's “triangle of death” on Thursday since 5,000 US-led troops kicked off Operation Plymouth Rock as officials said more than 2,000 people were killed in the anti-insurgent operation in Fallujah.

Separately, police in Basra said they had arrested five foreign fighters - two Saudis, two Tunisians and a Libyan - who had escaped the fighting in Fallujah.

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