Samarra is starting point – PM

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday said that the city of Samarra is a “starting point, not one of division among the Iraqis as terrorists wished,” stressing his government’s resolve to re-build the two Askari imams’ tombs that were devastated by a bombing attack two years ago. “Maliki made the statements during his visit on Thursday to Samarra to tour the reconstruction campaign in the city and progress of work on the re-building of the two Askari imams’ tombs,” according to a press release by the prime minister’s information office as received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “That day was a great shock at the political and security levels that brought us to a point some have thought would see no return from. After that despicable crime, innocent blood was shed everywhere in Iraq,” said Maliki. The holy Shiite tombs, located in Samarra, north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, were the target for a destructive bombing attack in February 2006. The blast has marked the onset of a sectarian strife that erupted in different areas of the country. “We are ashamed of what the foolish hirelings and al-Qaeda network have done by targeting Baghdad’s shrines like the tomb of Sheikh Abdelqader al-Kilani, al-No’man and al-Khilani as well as Shiite and Sunni mosques,” he added. “However, we thank God for helping us end this sedition and start thinking of rebuilding this holy shrine we wish to see a symbol of Muslims’ unity once again,” the Iraqi premier noted. Maliki was received during his visit to Samarra by Salah al-Din governor, members of the provincial council and army and police commanders. AmR (S) 1