URGENT: Shiite Sadrists launch huge demo, demanding U.S. troops departure from Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Thousands of Iraq’s Shiite Sadrist al-Mahdi Army elements took to the streets of Baghdad on Thursday morning, in a demonstration, led by their Leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, in east Baghdad ’s Al-Sadr city, named after his late father Mohammed Baqer al-Sadr.   The demonstrators, who pressed under foot the flags of the U.S. Israel and Britain , chanted slogans: “No..No.. America , No..No..Ocupation,” “Yes..Yes.. Iraq ..,” “Yes..Yes, Zahra’a,” “Yes..Yes..Mahdi.,” IraqiNews.com news agency correspondent reported.   Zahraa was the name of Fatimatul-Zahraa, the daughter of Prophet Mohammed and wife of his cousin and grand-son, Imam Ali Bin-Abi Taleb.   The Leader of the Sarist Trend, Muqtada al-Sadr, stood on a platform, facing thousands of demonstrators, saluting them, whilst they walked in a semi-military parade, all dressed in black costumes, with the Iraqi flag on their chests, he said.   The correspondent noticed that Iraqi Army forces had closed the main roads, leading to Al-Sadr city, where the demonstration started from and spread in most of its streets and districts, adding that tens of thousands of other demonstrators, who came from central and southern Iraqi provinces, joined their colleagues in   their huge demonstration.   He said that the demonstration took place today (Thursday), marking the anniversary of the birthday of Fatimatul-Zahraa in the 7 th century ad.   The Spokesman for the Sadrist Trend, Salah al-Obeidy, had stated on behalf of Muqtada al-Sadr, in a speech at the demonstration that the demonstration was taking place to demand the departure of the American troops from Iraq by the end of the current year, and in the event of their non-departure by that date, the Sadr Movement’s Al-Mahdi Army Militia, would restore its military resistance, along with stepping up its peaceful resistance.   Noteworthy is that the U.S. combat troops had withdrawn from Iraq at the end of August last, according to the Security Agreement, signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of 2008, provided that the remaining U.S. troops, estimated at 50,000, would withdraw by the end of the current year.   SKH (FT) 615