Sadrists to protest Bush’s visit tom.

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Sadrists or Iraqis loyal to Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Monday will stage several demonstrations in Iraqi provinces, protesting U.S. President George W. Bush’s visit to the capital Baghdad. “Popular demonstrations will take place tomorrow in most provinces to protest against U.S. President George Bush’s visit to Baghdad,” a media source from the Sadrist movement told IraqiNews.com. Bush had held a four-hour meeting with the Iraqi Presidential Board and the head of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) before heading for another meeting with the Iraqi premier to sign the troop withdrawal agreement. Earlier today, Bush arrived on a surprise visit to the capital Baghdad and met with President Jalal al-Talabani. Bush’s visit comes only 17 days ahead of the beginning of the implementation of the long-term security pact with Iraq, known as the status of forces agreement (SOFA), scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2009. On November 27, the Iraqi Parliament approved SOFA with a majority of 144 votes to 35 lawmakers, 29 of them are members of parliament from the Sadrist bloc. SS (S) 1