Iraqi cleric Sadr orders investigations panel into Baghdad deadly explosion
Muqtada al-Sadr.
Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered a panel to be formed to investigate a deadly explosion that rocked a Shiite mosque in Baghdad’s Sadr City Wednesday night, leaving 130 people dead and wounded.
“The investigations panel will issue its report on the matter within three days,” Iraqi website Baghdad Today quoted Sadr’s office as saying in a statement.
In his statement, Sadr offered deep condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He further called on his followers to “be patient and exercise self-restraint in order not give the country’s foes a chance to undermine Iraqi security and stability.”
At least 130 people were killed and wounded Wednesday in a deadly explosion near a Shiite mosque in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
“Two bombs went off near an ammunition cache placed in a Shiite mosque in the Shiite bastion of Sadr City in Baghdad, leaving 20 people killed,” a security source told Alghad Press.
“Up to 110 people were also wounded as a result of the explosion,” the source pointed out, adding that security forces rushed to the blast site and opened a probe into the matter.
Sadr City is a stronghold of the nationalist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose political bloc won a May 12 parliamentary election. Parliament ordered a national recount of votes on Wednesday.