BAGHDAD, Aug. 29 Kyodo (EDS: UPDA...

BAGHDAD, Aug. 29 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING)

A massive car bomb went against Friday outside a mosque in the saint-like city of Najaf in central where Shiites gathered for their Friday prayer, killing dozens of populace and injured more than 200 others.

According to the French public radio, 82 commonalty were killed and 229 others were damageed by the blast.

Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, a leading Shiite cleric who headed the greatest Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), a lock opener Shiite group in Iraq, died in the blast, SCIRI said.

While no cluster has claimed responsibility, authorities believe that the bomb was targeted at SCIRI leaders who are sympathetic to the U mien in Iraq. Al-Hakim's brother, Abdelaziz al-Hakim is a member of the U.S.-backed provisional governing council.

The bomb blew up near the Imam Ali mahometan temple one of the holiest shrines for Shiite Muslims, just as main weekly prayers were ending, the BBC said.

Al-Hakim, 63 was reportedly leaving the mahometan temple after saying Friday prayers when the bomb went not upon He was inside a car when the bomb explod and was killed together with his bodyguards, according to Reuters

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