Shias take out procession to protest bomb attack on shrine

Hyderabad, Feb 23 (UNI) Members of Shia community took out a procession in Old City to protest against the bomb attack on holy shrine 'Imam-e-Hassan Al Askaryiya,' also known as the Golden Mosque at Samarra in Iraq.

Clad in black dress, Shias gathered in large numbers in Darulshifa in Old City of Hyderabad and tried to proceed to the Raj Bhavan. However, police stopped the procession near Saifabad as the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly was in session. This led to mild tension for some time near Darulshifa.

Condemning against the bombing of the holy shrine, the protestors, beating their chest then took out a procession from Darulshifa to Salar Jung. Holding placards and carrying banners, they raised slogans against the US and President George W Bush. They also opposed the US President's visit to the country.

As a mark of protest, the Shia community closed their business establishments in the city.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Shia Youth Conference President Syed Hamed Hussain Jaffery, in a statement, condemning the attack on the holy shrine in Iraq, alleged that the US and its coalition forces were behind the incident.

The Conference has sent memoranda to President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Andhra Pradesh Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, urging them to prevent Mr Bush from visiting the country.

UNI ASJ VD KP1911