VP denounces Najaf blasts, urges resistance against “terrorist rings”

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdulmahdi on Saturday denounced the bombing attacks that rocked the holy Shiite city of al-Najaf a couple of days ago, according to a presidential statement. “I call for a strong stand in the face of terrorist rings that are trying to spark confusion and tension to encumber the forthcoming legislative elections,” Abdulmahdi was quoted in the statement as received by IraqiNews.com news agency. He urged security agencies and the armed forces to “observe more caution during this stage and to do their best quickly to track down the culprits who have the blood of our patient people on their hands and to bring them before justice”. Najaf, said to be housing the tomb of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb, the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and the holiest figure for Shiite Muslims, had witnessed on Thursday (Jan. 14) three bombing attacks that left one person killed and 77 other wounded as reported by medics. AmR (P) 2