[Mb-civic] CBC News - SUICIDE BOMBING IN ISLAMABAD

[CBC News Online]

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SUICIDE BOMBING IN ISLAMABAD
WebPosted Fri May 27 04:59:37 2005

ISLAMABAD ---At least 20 people have been killed and more than 150
wounded when an apparent suicide bomb exploded in a crowd of Shiite
Muslims at a shrine in Islamabad.

The blast occurred at the Bari Imam shrine, which is close to Pakistan's
main government buildings and the diplomatic enclave, where many
embassies and diplomatic residences are located.

Witnesses reported that thousands of devotees from the majority Sunni
Muslim and minority Shiite Muslim sects were attending festivals in the
area at the time of the explosion.

Both groups claim ownership of the shrine but it has been controlled by
Sunnis for the last two decades.

Pakistani leader Gen Pervez Musharraf, said "the incident which happened
in Bari Imam was a suicide attack. It is a great tragedy and the whole
country is very sad. I myself am very sad." Shiites make up a 20 per cent
minority of Pakistan's predominantly Muslim population of 150 million.

        The country's Religious Affairs Minister Ajiz-ul-Haq condemned
        the attack.

        "The government is going in full force against the terrorist
        activities, and that is why there are sometimes third parties
        which get involved, to create a rift between various sects in
        Pakistan. No Muslim can do this, and this place where this
        happened is sacred to all sects of Islam."

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