World News 20-12-2004 Iraq in Suicide Bomb Chaos who: Shia cleric Mohammed Bahr al-Uloum what: Calls for peace after more than 60 die in suicide bombings where: Iraq when: Yesterday snippet: "Hopes that Iraq will successfully hold peaceful democratic elections next month were battered yesterday," says The Guardian, "as gunmen in Baghdad murdered three electoral officials in cold blood, and at least 60 people were killed in twin bombings in the Shia holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala." "The first bomb exploded in Karbala, in an open-air bus station which is always crowded with pilgrims on their way to the golden-domed Imam Hussein shrine," says The Independent`s Patrick Cockburn. "The blast left the ground littered with the bodies of at least 14 dead and 39 wounded. The second and even more deadly blast came an hour later in the nearby city of Najaf, where a large crowd had gathered to attend the funeral of a tribal sheikh." "In Baghdad three election officials were shot dead by gunmen who dragged them from their car," says The Mirror. "Up to 30 militants hurled hand grenades and fired machine guns as they surrounded the car carrying five employees of the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq. Three terrified men, including a security guard, were dragged out and forced to kneel in the road before being shot in the head." "In a further blow to efforts to bring lasting stability to the country, lawyers for Saddam Hussein yesterday claimed the detained former Iraqi leader urged his compatriots to remain united against the occupation," says The Scotsman, "and warned of the potential dangers of the forthcoming elections." [... more]

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