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Reprisal attacks continue in Iraq

Baghdad: Reprisal attacks between Shias and Sunnis continued on Saturday as gunmen clad as police commandos attacked a Sunni mosque in Basra during the early hours.

A witness told the Independent News Agency: ``We heard a huge sound of explosion, early today, and rushed to see the Al-Ashra al-Mubashra mosque blown up.'' The mosque, which lies in Al-Shamshomiyah area in central Basra, suffered severe damage, according to local people.

A curfew had reportedly been imposed on Friday in the predominantly Shia city after the 7th-century tomb of Sahabi (companion of Prophet Muhammad) Talha bin Obaid Ellah was bombed. The bombing enraged Sunnis. It destroyed large portions of the holy site which acts as a tomb and a mosque, in addition to damaging its minaret and four domes.

Friday's and Saturday's bombings of Sunni mosques were evidently in response to Wednesday's attack on the minarets of one of the holiest Shia religious sites in the northern city of Samarra.

United States Defence Secretary Robert Gates was in Iraq on a surprise visit on Saturday to press for bolder reconciliation moves by the Shia-led Government amid a spate of tit-for-tat sectarian attacks on shrines.

Ahead of talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Mr. Gates met top U.S. commanders for a briefing on the security situation. He met General David Petraeus and his deputy, Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno.— Agencies

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