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Blast hits key Iraq Shia shrine Blast hits key Iraq Shia shrine
(30 minutes later)
The two minarets of the al-Askari shrine in Iraq, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, have been damaged by an explosion, officials say. The two minarets of the al-Askari shrine in Iraq, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, have been damaged by two explosions, officials say.
There are unconfirmed reports that the minarets have collapsed after being hit by a bomb blast around 0900 (0500 GMT). According to witnesses the minarets collapsed completely after being hit by bomb blasts around 0900 (0500 GMT).
The shrine houses one of two tombs in Samarra for revered Shia imams, which attract pilgrims from around the world. The shrine houses one of two tombs in Samarra for revered Shia imams.
The bombing of the dome at the mosque in 2006 is widely believed to have sparked outright sectarian conflict. The bombing of the dome at the mosque in 2006 is widely believed to have set off a continuing spiral of sectarian violence in which many thousands died.
A cleric responsible for Shia shrines in Iraq said the minarets had been blown up by "terrorists". The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says there are obvious fears now that this might give it yet further impetus.
"It is a terrorist attack aimed at sparking sectarian violence," Sheikh Saleh al-Haidari told the AFP news agency The head of the Shia endowment foundation said the minarets had been blown up by "terrorists".
Samarra: Pilgrimage centre
"It is a terrorist attack aimed at sparking sectarian violence," Sheikh Saleh al-Haidari told the AFP news agency.
A senior government official said it was very bad news for Iraq.
Sources in Samarra said the city had been put under an immediate curfew.
Samarra is mainly a Sunni Muslim stronghold and has been a centre of the armed insurgency against US troops and the Shia-dominated Iraqi administration.Samarra is mainly a Sunni Muslim stronghold and has been a centre of the armed insurgency against US troops and the Shia-dominated Iraqi administration.
The al-Askari shrine is part of the Imam Ali al-Hadi mausoleum, which contains the remains of the 10th and 11th imams, reputed to be direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.The al-Askari shrine is part of the Imam Ali al-Hadi mausoleum, which contains the remains of the 10th and 11th imams, reputed to be direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
Imam Ali al-Hadi died in 868 AD and his son, Hassan al-Askari, died in 874 AD.Imam Ali al-Hadi died in 868 AD and his son, Hassan al-Askari, died in 874 AD.
The spiral minaret on top of one of the city's other holy sites, the Sunni Great Mosque of Samarra, was damaged in April 2003. The attack in February last year was widely believed to be the work of Sunni militants from the al-Qaeda movement, some of whom were later arrested.
Our correspondent says there are bound to be questions about how such an obvious and significant target could have been attacked again.
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