Iraq civil war fears as shrine is bombed - "this would not have happened under Sadam"
The bullet-riddled bodies of 50 people were recovered in Baghdad today after a night of sectarian violence in Iraq. Religious leaders in Iraq urged their followers to remain calm last night and not drag the country into civil war following the bombing yesterday of one of Shiite Islam's most sacred shrines. The bloodless attack at dawn on the Golden Mosque in Samarra provoked more retaliatory violence in Iraq than other Sunni rebel attacks that have killed thousands. Police said three Sunni clerics were among six people killed at 27 Sunni mosques in Baghdad. Much damage was minor but at least two mosques were burned out. There were sectarian clashes in other cities and in the capital, fearful residents rushed home before dark, some stocking up on food. Armed Mehdi Army militiamen loyal to the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took up positions on streets in Baghdad and Shia cities in the south, clashing in the British-controlled city Basra and elsewhere with Sunnis.
NEARLY 100 prisoners have died in United States' custody in the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan since August 2002, it was reported last night. The BBC2 Newsnight programme said the figures were obtained from the Pentagon by an organisation called Human Rights First. The programme said the figures show there have been 98 deaths in US custody. At least 34 of them are "suspected or confirmed homicides" - "that means caused by intentional or reckless behaviour", the report said. The report claims that 11 more are deemed suspicious and that between eight and 12 prisoners were tortured to death.
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