Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Suicide bombers kill at least 143 in Baghdad BY TAREK AL-ISSAWI TUB ASSOCIATKI) I’RKSS BAGHDAD, IRAQ - Suicide . bombers carried out simultane ous attacks on Shiite Muslim shrines in Iraq on Tuesday, deto nating multifile explosions that ripped through crowds of pil grims. At least 143 people were killed and 430 wounded — the bloodiest day since the fall of Saddam Hussein. Unofficial casualty reports, however, put the toll in Baghdad and Karbala as high as 223. U.S. officials and Iraqi leaders named an al-Qaida-linked militant, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, as a “prime suspect” for the attacks, saying he seeks to spark a Sunni Shiite civil war to wreck U.S. plans to hand over power to the Iraqis on June 30. But some Shiites lashed out at U.S. forces. Iraq’s most powerful Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Hussein al-Sistani, blamed the Americans for not providing se curity on the holiest day of the Shiite calendar. The blasts fanned fear and anger at a time when leaders of the Shiite majority are pressing for more power in a future govern ment after years of oppression un der Saddam. The attacks forced the delay of a milestone in the path toward the U.S. handover — the planned Thursday signing of an interim constitution approved by the U.S.-appointed Governing Council. “What we’ve seen today in these attacks are desperation moves by al Qaeda-affiliated groups that rec ognize the threat that a successful transition in Iraq represents," Vice President Dick Cheney told CNN. The devastating explosions came on the climactic day of the 10-day Shiite mourning festival Ashoura commemorating the 7th century martyrdom of the prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussein. The bombings also happened about two hours before an attack on a Shiite procession in Quetta, Pakistan, that killed at least 42 people — including two attackers — and wounded over 160. Tens of thousands of pilgrims from Iraq, Iran and other Shiite communities were massed around the golden-domed Imam Hussein mosque in the holy city of Karbala and the Kazimiya shrine in Baghdad when the explosions went off about 10 a.m. In Baghdad, wooden carts for ferrying elderly pilgrims were used instead as impromptu gurneys, stacked with the wounded and dead. Tom bodies were sprawled across the mosaic-walled courtyard inside the Kazimiya shrine. Three suicide bombers at tacked Kazimiya shrine, killing 58 and wounding 200, while at least one suicide attacker blew himself up at Karbala, where 85 were killed and 230 were wounded, U.S. Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said. However, council spokesman Hameed al-Kafaei, visiting Karbala, put the death toll there at 101, including 15 children, with more than 300 wounded. Iran said at least 22 Iranians were among the dead. Iranians by the tens of thousands have flood ed across the common border with Iraq since Saddam’s ouster in April, able to visit the most im portant Shiite shrines for the first time in decades. The toll could have been worse. A fourth suicide bomber was cap tured at Kazimiya after his ex plosives failed to detonate. Police in the southern Shiite city of Basra discovered two women strapped with explosives march ing in an Ashoura procession, and other bombs were found near Shiite mosques in Basra and Najaf, sources told The Associated Press. PHOTO COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS A man sweeps debris, including shoes from the dead and injured, from the Kazlmlya mosque in Baghdad Tuesday. WOULD YOU KNOW IT IF YOU DID? Every year, thousands of young people—mostly females—struggle with eating disorders. Many are high school or college students. Many don't know what they're dealing with. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa and bulimia. They can have serious, long-term health effects and, in some cases, can be fatal. A weekly education and support group is available for individuals age 14 and older who believe they may have an eating disorder or who have previously been treated for an eating disorder. The group is led by a specially trained nurse or resident. Eating Disorders Support Group Wednesdays, 6-7:15 p.m. (excluding the first Wednesday of the month) Richland Springs, Eleven Medical Park Dr., Palmetto Health Richland To register, call 434-4813 A family support group also is available on the first Wednesday of the month from 6-7:15 p.m. To register, call 434-4813. PALMETTC ■ * - palmettohealth.com The Ealing Disorders Support Groups are a collaborative effort between Palmetto Health Behavioral Care. USC School of Medicine. Department of Neuropsychiatry, the Department of Mental Health, and SC NAM! (National Alliance for the Mentally III). ■■ —' . ~ - . ■ . .. ' ■ 111 1 1 quality gear since 1973 i 1215 Wayne St. (in the Vista) 799-7571 Mon-Fri 10-6:30 . Sat 10-6 • Sun 1-5 (I J 1 ■ M Applications for Executive Cabinet are available in the Student Government Office. The following positions are now open: t • Presidential Affairs Liaison • Media Relations . • Environmental Affairs • Institutional Affairs i • Women's Issues • Community Service • Greek Affairs • Campus Safety • Attorney General ,1 • Elections Commissioner • Freshman Council Advisor • Minority Affairs • Chief of Staff • Organizational Affairs • Academic Affairs • Graduate Affairs __I i ---T-I-I I |