Baghdad bridge stampede kills 965
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-09-01 06:59

Neighbouring Shiite Iran offered its condolences but warned that "suspicious hands are involved in conspiracies to incite violence and bloodshed among the different Iraqi groups and tribes."

Iraqi Health Minister Abdul Mutalib Mohammad Ali demanded the resignation of the interior and defence ministers whom he blamed for the tragedy.

Shiites, long repressed under Saddam, have been one of the main targets of the Sunni-led insurgency. In March last year more than 170 people were killed in almost simultaneous attacks in Karbala and Baghdad mosques as faithful Shiites marked a religious festival.

Wednesday's tragedy came amid deep divisions in the country over Iraq's draft constitution, which is opposed by disgruntled Sunni Arabs who are now seeking alliances to defeat the charter in an October 15 referendum.

"Even if it wasn't directly caused by Sunni insurgents, the perception will be that it was," said Joost Hiltermann of the International Crisis Group, an organisation working to resolve conflicts.

"In the current environment people will see things in a sectarian light... and it may well lead to further expansion of growing sectarian animosities."

Iraq's revered Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Sistani called for unity.

"He (Sistani) calls on all Iraqis to have unity and close ranks, to give no chance to those who want to provoke discord," said Hamid Khaffaf, Sistani's spokesman in the southern holy city of Najaf.

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad hinted that the draft constitution, presented to parliament on Sunday after weeks of tortuous negotiations that failed to bring the Sunnis on board, was still an incomplete document.

The Sunni leaders, who are mobilising the community to strike alliances across the sectarian divide, said they were opening talks with other ethnic and religious groups including radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's movement.

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