Thousands Hold Unity Prayers to Show Solidarity: Iraq

Local Editor

Thousands of Iraqis have held unity prayers across the country to show solidarity against attempts that aim at pushing the country into sectarian strife.
The joint Shia-Sunni Friday Prayers came against the backdrop of growing anger nationwide over what Iraqi authorities describe as attempts to sow sectarian strife.
On May 19, Prime Minister Noori al-Maliki called on Iraqis to hold joint prayers every Friday in a bid to reduce violence after a series of terrorist attacks on Shia and Sunni holy sites across Iraq killed scores of people.
"Those who target mosques are enemies of Sunnis and Shias alike, and are planning to ignite (sectarian) strife," al-Maliki said in a statement on Sunday.
More than 400 people have been killed in bombings and others acts of violence in Iraq since the start of May. On May 21, at least 42 people were killed and many others injured in a series of terrorist attacks across Iraq. A day earlier, nearly 100 people were killed in multiple attacks.

The PM not only has blamed militant groups and the remnants of the former Ba'athist regime for the violence but also has accused some regional countries of fueling the violence in Iraq in a bid to topple the Iraqi government.

Source: News Agencies