August 31, 2003
300,000 march behind Hakim's symbolic coffin
If the reports are accurate, this sounds like the largest crowd since the massive Shia pilgrimage to Karbala on April 23rd to commemorate the death of Imam Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad and first leader of the Shi'ites (a practice that had been outlawed under Saddam). From the AP:
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Beating their chests and calling for revenge, more than 300,000 Muslims began a two-day, 110-mile march Sunday to the holy city of Najaf to mourn a cherished Shiite leader assassinated in a car bombing.The U.S. military reported that 125 people died in the attack on the Imam Ali mosque, a dramatic increase from earlier hospital reports of 85....
The faithful followed a flatbed truck carrying a symbolic coffin for Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, a moderate cleric and Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) opponent. Authorities said they could only find al-Hakim's hand, watch, wedding band and pen in the wreckage.
"Our revenge will be severe on the killers," read one of the many banners carried by mourners. Red and white roses were laid on the coffin and a large portrait of al-Hakim was placed in front of it.
The Iraqi police handling the investigation into Friday's bombing say they have arrested 19 men — many of them foreigners and all with admitted links to al-Qaida — in connection with the blast.
However, many Shiites blame the cleric's death on Saddam loyalists and the U.S.-led coalition, which they say has failed to provide adequate security in the country since the dictator's fall.
In Najaf, Maj. Rick Hall, spokesman for the 1st Batallion, 7th Marines said the death toll now stood at 125 with 142 wounded, some seriously. He also said the Marine transfer of the south-central territory including Najaf to an international force lead by Poland, set for this week, had been put on hold.
No shit. Sending in a few Polish troops as replacements would be the last straw.
Without the real numbers UN control can bring, "international force" is a farce.