Iran accuses Israel, U.S. for Iraq blasts

TEHRAN, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Iran's grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel and the U.S. of responsibility for attacks that killed 60 people in Shiite Iraqi cities Sunday.

The Iranian News Agency, IRNA, Monday quoted Khamenei as saying: "The Israeli and American intelligence agencies no doubt stand behind the bloody and bitter events that took place in holy Karbala and sacred Najaf."

Khamenei provided no evidence for his accusations.

Powerful car bomb blasts, believed to have been carried out by Sunni Muslim insurgents killed at least 60 people and injured 147 others in Shiite Karbala and Najaf, seats of the community's two holiest shrines.