04:19:03 È.Ù
Tehran, Jan 6 -
Tehran's Interim Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani on Friday condemned the "tragic and deplorable" bomb explosion in the Shi'ite city of Karbala, southern Iraq, on Thursday, which killed over 50 pilgrims.
The senior cleric said, "Despite such deplorable events, the foundation stone for government is laid in Iraq and the Iraqi nation should look after their unity, integrity and manpower resources," said Kashani in his second sermon to large groups of worshipers at this week's Friday prayers congregation.
Kashani said Iraqi people should be careful of the US attempts to fan differences among them.
At least 50 pilgrims were killed and some 70 others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the southern Shi'ite city of Karbala on a crowded street near the holy shrine of Imam Hossein, the third Imam of the Shi'ites, on Thursday, according to police in Baghdad.
Tehran's substitute Friday prayers leader rebuked the US policies on Iraq and said the US, under the pretext of security and democracy, occupied a country, supported a terrorist like Sharon (Zionist Prime Minister), tortured prisoners and eavesdropped on the American citizens.
The US claims fighting terrorism but commits crimes wherever deems the practice being in its interests, said the Ayatollah, adding that then, despite the fiasco, the US turns to claim that it is supporting terrorism. "I don't know to what extent the US considers the world people ignorant?" asked the Ayatollah.
"The evil Sharon is hospitalized and Bush too prays for him; perhaps his secretary of state says amen", ridiculed Kashani, referring to the Zionist Prime Minister who is in critical condition after two surgery operations following his major brain stroke on Thursday.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the substitute Friday prayers leader attached significance to the recent meeting of the members of the Cultural Revolution High Council with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and the remarks made by his excellency regarding the 20-year prospect plan.
He also advised the youth to strive for development of science and knowledge, stressing that those who are in charge of cultural affairs should put into practice the guidelines set by the supreme leader in cultural area.
He also felicitated Muslims on the advent of Eid-Adha and Eid Ghadir, the two greatest festivals among Muslims throughout the world.
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