Bomb Blast Kills Iraqi Special Police Commander

伊拉克特警队指挥官遇炸身亡

Iraqi authorities say a bomb blast at a police station south of Baghdad has killed a commander of a special police unit and his aide. Officials say several other policemen and civilians were wounded in the explosion when it ripped through the station in the city of Hillah early Friday morning. Attacks in Iraq have increased since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan two weeks ago. According to the United Nations refugee agency, the violence is triggering a steady exodus from the country. U.N. officials say thousands are fleeing Iraq each month.

In Tehran during Friday prayers, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the United States for the increase in violence. He says the U.S. is making Iraq's Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims suspicious of one another. U.S. officials contend Iran is backing Shi'ite insurgents.

伊拉克当局说，一枚炸弹在巴格达以南一所警察局爆炸，炸死特警队一位指挥官及其副官。有关官员说，星期五早上发生在希莱的爆炸中还有几名警察和平民受伤。穆斯林斋月两个星期前开始以来，袭击事件有所增加。联合国难民事务高级专员公署说，伊拉克的暴力事件引发人员不断外逃。联合国官员说，每个月都有成千上万人逃离伊拉克。

伊朗最高领导人哈梅内伊星期五在德黑兰祷告时指责美国要对暴力事件增加负责。他说，美国让伊拉克的逊尼派穆斯林和什叶派穆斯林相互猜疑。美国官员认为伊朗支持什叶派反叛分子。