This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1179

Iraqi Shias and Sunnis united in outrage over bombing of statue by 'destructive terrorist group'

October 23, 2005

MIM: The Shias and Sunnis have been killing each other and Americans non stop. When it comes to questions like rebuilding their country and writing a constitution, they have been at each others throats both literally and figuratively. Yet the blowing up of a statue by unknown 'subversives' unites them in outrage and loud condemnation over the actions 'a destructive terrorist group'.

Bets are on as to when they will find even more common ground and start claiming that the bombing was done by 'Americans and the Zionists' to pit Iraqis against each other (!)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22163451.htm

Bombing of Baghdad Statue Angers Shia's and Sunnis

By Aseel Kami

BAGHDAD, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Iraqi Sunnis and Shi'ites found rare common ground on Saturday in condemning the bombing of a statue of the Abassid caliph who founded Baghdad in the 8th century. Unknown men strapped explosives to the bronze statue of Abu Jaffar al-Mansur in a Baghdad square and blew it up late on Tuesday, a day before Saddam Hussein and seven other co-accused went on trial for the killing of more than 140 men in the 1980s. Iraq has been plagued by a bloody campaign of bombings and killings waged by Saddam's once-dominant Sunni Arab minority against the Shi'ite- and Kurdish-led government, fanning sectarian and ethnic tension and prompting fears of a civil war. But on Saturday many Baghdad residents, both Sunni and Shi'ite, were dismayed at what they said was an attack against their proud history. No group has claimed responsibility. "It is an act of sabotage. The statue represents Baghdad history and to ruin it symbolises the ruin of Baghdad," said Hussein Aziz, a Sunni who said he works for a tourism and travel company. A Shi'ite woman was even more outraged: "Why are they doing this? What is their purpose in doing this? Mansur played a role in Iraq's history and they want to ruin the history of Iraq. This is ridiculous," said Najat al-Azzawi, a-55-year-old mother. Built in 1978, the statue survived U.S. air-strikes during the 1991 Gulf War and the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. But now it is in ruins. Before it was whisked away by a crane on Wednesday, children played amid the remains of the statue's towering head. An official in the Interior Ministry said: "It is an act of sabotage. It is not known who did it. All I know is that whoever did it is a destructive and terrorist group." Mansur, considered the founder of the Abbasid dynasty, reigned from 754-775 AD and established Baghdad by the Tigris river. The city became known as Medina al-Salaam, or City of Peace. Iraq's parliament has said it will try to rebuild the statue.

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1179