Many of Baghdad’s Shiite and Sunni Muslims on Wednesday rallied behind embattled firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr whose banned militia is facing a nationwide assault by US-led coalition forces.
Al-Sadr, who is subject to an arrest warrant in connection with the murder of a rival Shiite cleric last year, meanwhile called for power in Iraq to be handed over to ”honest men” and not to collaborators of the US-led occupation.
In a statement issued in the holy city of Najaf, the cleric urged ”American people to take sides with the Iraqi people, oppressed by [US] leaders and the occupation army, to help them so that power is transferred to honest Iraqis”.
He also called on neighbouring Kuwait to end the US military presence at bases within the emirate.
”I call on our neighbour Kuwait to request that American bases leave its territory and that it stands by our side to get rid of the great Satan in Iraq,” he said.
In Baghdad’s northwestern Kadhimiya district, dozens of young Iraqis flocked to al-Sadr’s local headquarters to proclaim their allegiance to the radical cleric and express their readiness to die for him.
”America is the enemy of the people. For us Muslims, Sunnis or Shiites, martyrdom is our way,” said Salah Noama al-Aanazi.
Dozens of youths also congregated in a local Shiite mosque where an al-Sadr aide, Sheikh Hazem al-Aaraji, is based.
”The entire population of Kazimiya is with us. We have moved from self-defence to civil disobedience. All government offices and schools are closed. Only shops are still open,” said Aaraji.
”Moqtada is a good man and not an outlaw. Americans see all those who are against them as terrorists. Negotiation is pointless,” said Taleb Mohammad, a 22-year-old student.
”It’s Americans who attack us. We are within our right,” said Usama Khairi.
In Sadr City, Baghdad’s impoverished Shiite suburb, 250 people held a funeral service for one of 12 civilians killed during overnight clashes between US forces and al-Sadr’s banned Mehdi Army militia, according to hospital sources.
At least 69 people have been killed and 272 others wounded in Sadr City since the US army launched an offensive to protests by al-Sadr’s militiamen on Sunday, according to hospital sources.
Throughout the country, a total of 126 Iraqis have been killed and 553 wounded since clashes between US forces and al-Sadr militiamen erupted on Sunday.
Earlier Wednesday, the US-led coalition said it intended to ”destroy the Mehdi”.
In Sadr City, four US Bradley fighting vehicles and one Abrams tank were parked 200m from the al-Sadr headquarters.
Others stood guard at key intersections, the main entrance of the sprawling Shiite slum and at police stations.
Al-Sadr militiamen were out of sight.
An al-Sadr spokesperson, Sheikh Bassim Hassen al-Zarjawi, tried to cool tempers but spoke out against US actions.
”The Americans fired missiles and used tanks against residential areas last night. They bombard Sadr City while people are praying,” he said. — Sapa-AFP