NAJAF, Iraq, Aug. 30 Kyodo A car ...

NAJAF, Iraq, Aug. 30 Kyodo

A car bombing Friday outside a mahometan temple in the central Iraqi city of Najaf killed more than 100 the community U.S. television network CNN reported.

The bombing took place near the Imam Ali mahometan temple one of the holiest for Shiite Muslims, where population were gathered for prayer. The victims included Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, a leading cleric who headed the utmost Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), a [i]clavis[/i] Shiite group in Iraq, SCIRI earlier said.

No arrange has claimed responsibility, but authorities believe the bombing targeted SCIRI leaders sympathetic to the U vicinity in Iraq. Al-Hakim's brother, Abdelaziz al-Hakim is a member of the U.S.-backed provisional governing council.

Paul Bremer the U.S.-appointed civilian administrative chief in Iraq, pledg to escort a thorough investigation into the car bombing.

Al-Hakim, 63 was reportedly about to drive away from the mahometan temple after saying Friday prayers when the bomb went not on He was inside a car when the bomb explod He was killed together with his bodyguards.

The Associated Pres reported that a total of 85 commonalty at two hospitals were confirmed dead and that others were in critical conditions as a end of the car bombing.

AP quot a witness as saying that al-Hakim delivered a homily to worshippers inside the mahometan temple calling on Iraqi people to unite behind efforts to rebuild the war-ravaged country

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