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Thousands attend funeral of Ayat Sistani’s aides

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY NAJAF, Iraq: An Al-Qaida-linked terrorist group claimed responsibility on Friday for the murder of one of Ayatullah As-Sistani’s aides as violence continued and funerals of the assassinated representatives of the Grand Marjay were held in the holy city of Najaf.

Two aides of Ayatullah As-Sistani were martyred in separate attacks apparently aimed at inflaming sectarian conflict.

Ansar Al-Islam said it targeted Sheikh Mahmoud Finjan Al-Madaini as a supporter of the Ayatullah Sistani, and “as a big supporter of the elections.”

Finjan along with his son and four bodyguards was shot to death Wednesday as he headed home after evening prayers in a mosque at the town of Salman Pak southeast of Baghdad.

“We ... call upon all brother citizens not to participate in the elections because we are going to attack voting centers,” Ansar Al-Islam said in the statement claiming responsibility, renewing demands for a boycott of the balloting.

Meanwhile, a car bomb exploded on Thursday night outside a mosque and husseiniyah in Khan Bani Saad in the northern city of Baquba while worshippers were coming out of it after offering Isha (evening) prayer. The attack damaged the husseiniyah, several shops and vehicles leaving seven people martyred and nearly 40 injured.

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