145;Saddam, Baath behind blast146;

Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi blamed former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and other Baathists for the explosion which killed top Iraqi Shi...

Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi blamed former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and other Baathists for the explosion which killed top Iraqi Shi8217;ite politician Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer Al-Hakim and 74 others on Friday.

Chalabi, a Shi8217;ite who heads the Iraqi National Council, said: 8216;8216;There8217;s no doubt in my mind. It8217;s Saddam, remnants of the Baathists and their new allies from across the border, the fundamentalists coming across to participate in these things.8217;8217;

Saddam8217;s Baath Party was the main vehicle for his dictatorial rule.

Chalabi, speaking from Baghdad, said he had been with Al-Hakim and his brother in Najaf on Wednesday and one of them told him the Shi8217;ites were worried about the possibility of an explosion near the shrine of Ali, one of the most holy sites for Shi8217;ite Muslims.

He said Friday8217;s incident showed the need for the US to give the Iraqi Governing Council, of which he is a member, a greater role in maintaining security in the country.

8216;8216;The Americans have complete control over security and military force and we have a lot of information. We need to work better to marry the two 8212; the information and the ability to act,8217;8217; he said.

8216;8216;Iraqis should have a much bigger role in maintaining security in the country. I propose the creation of an Iraqi security force, a serious one, but also we need to empower the Governing Council quickly,8217;8217; he added.

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An aide to Chalabi said the explosion on Friday strongly resembled the explosion at the UN headquarters in Baghdad this month and was probably the work of the same people.

He noted that both of them used massive quantities of explosives to target a prominent person whom the bombers expected to be in the area at the time.

Chalabi dismissed speculation that the assassination of Al-Hakim could be part of a dispute between Shi8217;ite groups. 8216;8216;Anyone who understands anything about Shias would never say that, because this is the most important throne in all Shi8217;ism,8217;8217; he said.

8216;8216;There is outrage in the Shia community, more determination to fight Saddam and expunge the Baath. They have no doubt who8217;s doing it,8217;8217; he added.

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A State Department official said the United States deplored the bombing and was in touch with the Governing Council on it.

Blast shows evil of terrorism: Bremer

BAGHDAD: Iraq8217;s US Governor Paul Bremer said the car bombers who killed a Shi8217;ite Muslim leader and some 20 other people on Friday had shown the 8216;8216;evil face of terrorism8217;8217; and vowed Washington would work hard to bring them to justice. The bombing took place in Najaf just after Friday prayers outside the Imam Ali mosque. 8216;8216;The bombing today in An Najaf shows again that the enemies of the new Iraq will stop at nothing,8217;8217; said Bremer. 8216;8216;Again, they have killed innocent Iraqis,8217;8217; he said in a statement. 8216;8216;Again, they have violated one of Islam8217;s most sacred places. Again, by their heinous action, they have shown the evil face of terrorism.8217;8217; Another attack in Najaf last Sunday wounded his relative and killed three bodyguards. 8216;8216;The Iraqi police have our full cooperation in this important investigation,8217;8217; Bremer said. 8216;8216;I pledge that the coalition will do everything to see the perpetrators are brought to justice. On behalf of the American people and friends of Iraq, I express my sympathy to the families of those killed and to the injured,8217;8217; he added. Reuters