Iraq: The Threat Of 'A Devastating Civil War'

Samarra's Golden Mosque on 22 February (epa) Iraqi religious and government leaders, as well as international officials, condemned the 22 February bomb attack that wrecked the Golden Mosque, a major Shi'ite Muslim shrine in Samarra. Below is a selection of statements on the incident.

"This new ugly crime comes as a warning that there is a conspiracy against the Iraqi people to spark a war among brothers. God willing, we will not allow this.... We must cooperate and work together against this danger, the danger of civil war. This is the fiercest danger because it threatens our unity and our country with a devastating civil war." -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani

"The timing of this crime indicates that one of its aims is to stall the political process and to hamper the negotiations on the formation of a national-unity government." -- President Talabani

"I announce on this occasion three days of mourning. I hope our heroic people will take more care on this occasion to bolster Islamic unity and protect Islamic brotherhood and Iraqi national brotherhood." -- Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari

"Oh honorable people of Samarra! We should stand as one, united in confronting terrorism.... This assault is an assault on all Muslims." -- Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabur

"They will fail to draw the Iraqi people into civil war as they have failed in the past." -- Iraqi National Security Adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubay'i

"If the security systems are unable to secure necessary protection, the believers are able to do so with the might of God." -- Shi'ite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani

"We will not only condemn and protest but we will act against those militants. If the Iraqi government does not do its job to defend the Iraqi people we are ready to do so." -- Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, speaking through spokesman Abdel Hadi al-Darajee

"The comments of the U.S. ambassador were not responsible. He did not behave like an ambassador and his comments were a reason for more pressure and light for the terrorist groups. Therefore he bears some of the responsibility." -- Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Shi'ite SCIRI party, speaking about comments about the dangers of sectarianism made earlier this week by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad

"[The party] strongly condemns this sinful act and calls for a wide-reaching and objective investigation to catch those behind this crime that aims to harm the Iraqi people by provoking destructive sectarian strife." -- a statement issued by the Iraqi Islamic Party

The Golden Mosque before the 22 February bombing (courtesy photo)

"This is a political crime and its origins should be found in the intelligence organizations of the occupiers of Iraq and the Zionists.... There are definitely some plots to force Shi'ites to attack the mosques and other properties respected by the Sunnis. Any measure to contribute to that direction is helping the enemies of Islam and is forbidden by Shari'a." -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

"We denounce in the strongest terms the terrorist destruction of the Golden Mosque.... This heinous crime is a deliberate attempt to foment sectarian strife in Iraq and the region. Given the historic, cultural, and religious importance of this shrine, this attack is a crime against humanity." -- U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and Multinational Force-Iraq commander U.S. General George Casey, in a joint statement

(compiled by Reuters)