DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s top Sunni cleric on Saturday branded a deadly attack on Shias a bid to sow chaos, after villagers targeted in the bombing vented their anger at what they saw as the Sunni-dominated government’s indifference to their safety.

It was one of the deadliest assaults in recent years in the largest Gulf Arab country, where sectarian tensions have been aggravated by nearly two months of Saudi-led air strikes on Shia Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen.

Read: Deadly suicide blast at mosque in Saudi Arabia kills 21

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh told state Al Ekhbariya TV on Saturday: “This totally criminal plot aims to split our ranks and sow chaos in our country but, God be praised, it will not find a way.

The nation and society are united and under a wise leadership.” Sheikh Mohammed Obeidan, a top local Shia cleric, urged followers not to give into their anger and maintain the peace. “We’ll stand before anyone who thinks that our creed is a cause for fear or worry ... mass prayer — in a calm, orderly way with self restraint — is the right way to respond to this corrupt force and hateful darkness,” he told worshippers.

But resentment in al-Qadeeh were running high. A video posted online by local activists showed a policeman standing over the limbs of the bomber inside the stricken mosque and apparently saying “God rest his soul”, only to get screamed at by residents whose white robes were smeared with blood.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

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