Sunday, Apr 10, 2005
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By Atul Aneja
MANAMA, APRIL 9. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have poured into the streets of Baghdad demanding the end of the American occupation, exactly two years after U.S. troops had seized control of the Iraqi capital. Most of the demonstrators in Baghdad were Shias loyal to the young cleric Moqtada Al Sadr. But coordinated protests seeking an end to the American presence also took place in the Sunni strongholds of Ramadi and Baiji. Mr. Al Sadr had given the call for the demonstrations, which was supported by the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS), a powerful Sunni religious body that is known to have influence over the resistance groups. "Many of our brothers, including Sunnis, have welcomed the call and will take part," Sheikh Abdul-Hadi al-Daraji, a spokesman for Mr. Al Sadr was quoted as saying. Followers of Shia cleric from the southern cities of Basra, Amara and Nassiriya travelled over long distances to join the protest. Mr. Al Sadr's group and Sunnis under the AMS banner had on February 15, formed the "Anti-Occupation Patriotic Forces", an umbrella organisation that is seeking a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and restoration of full Iraqi sovereignty, as part of its seven-point agenda. The protesters marched from the poor Shia district of Sadr city to the Firdos square for a rally. As a result, the square itself, and side streets were choked with crowds waving Iraqi flags and holding aloft effigies of the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the U.S. President, George W. Bush. "No, no to the occupiers", many of them shouted , while other chanted , "No America! No Saddam! Yes to Islam!" The protesters also called for a speedy trial of former President Saddam Hussein, whose statue was toppled from Firdos square two years ago.
15 Iraqi soldiers killed
Today's demonstrations coincided with an attack by guerillas, which killed 15 U.S. trained Iraqi troops, who were travelling in a military convoy, south of Baghdad. On Friday, a roadside bomb killed an American soldier, north of the Iraqi capital, raising to total U.S. death toll to at least 1,540.
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