Sadr supporters stage mass Iraq rally

Published: Oct. 18, 2008 at 6:56 AM

BAGHDAD, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Supporters of radical Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr staged a mass demonstration in Baghdad Saturday demanding the removal of U.S. troops, officials say.

Iraqi officials estimated 50,000 people lined the streets of the Sadr City slums and moved toward central Baghdad. They chanted slogans, including "Get out occupier," as the Iraqi government and the United States negotiated a "status of forces" agreement that would legitimize the presence of U.S. troops in the country, the BBC reported.

Sadr opposes the draft of the agreement, which would replace a United Nations mandate that provides the legal framework for U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq. Under the draft, which would have to be approved by the Iraqi parliament, U.S. troops would withdraw by 2011 and Iraq could prosecute Americans who commit crimes, the broadcaster said.

Sadr's parliamentary bloc expressed its disapproval of the deal Friday during a meeting of the Iraq Political Council for National Security.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Busty bride's revealing gown rounds blogs (1 min)
Alleged Visine theft leads to scuffle (20 min)
UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (23 min)
Thanksgiving parade goes off-Broadway (23 min)
Police: Burglars targeted sleeping nuns (30 min)
Soderling first through to ATP semifinals (37 min)
Three players make PSAs with president (41 min)
fark
Canadian judge rules that the Happy Gilmore golf swing is wrong, biatch
News media reports that Obama has pardoned his first turkey. AIG and GM beg to differ
It's the Fark Annual Thanksgiving Eve Draw A Hand Turkey For Mom Contest. Past losers include Jerry...
Man smokes pack of cigarettes then hangs himself. See, those things will kill you
Students angry over dress code stage a protest, learn the school can in fact suspend all 1,500 of...
Georgia Supreme Court reverses theft conviction, rules a riding lawn mower isn't a "motor vehicle."...