Iraqi Shiite leaders call for unity

BAGHDAD, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- One of Iraq's leading Shiite politicians Friday said the bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samara was the work of extremists and urged unity.

Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, the head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, called the bombers "takfiris," or extremists, citing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, CNN reported.

Wednesday's bombing of the Shiite shrine in Samara set off a wave of reprisals and counter-reprisals that has left at least 132 people dead. Late Thursday, authorities announced a curfew in Baghdad and other cities.

Al-Hakim's call for Shiites to protest peacefully echoed that of Iraq's major Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. But Sistani's call for demonstrations has angered some Sunni leaders.

"We point the finger of blame at certain Shiite religious authorities calling for demonstrations, while they know Iraq cannot control the streets," Sheik Abdul Salam al-Qubaisi said.