Al-Sadr advocates Baghdad uprising
FIERCE RESISTANCE: Shiite cleric reverses cooperative stance, calls for new protest
Saturday, March 17, 2007
(03-17) 04:00 PDT Baghdad -- Firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday called upon followers inside his stronghold of Sadr City to resist U.S. forces trying to stabilize the capital. Officials in his organization said the cleric was advocating a peaceful uprising.
"Raise your voices, all of you loving your brothers and united against your enemy saying as your leader taught you: 'No America, no Israel, no, no Satan,' by standing and demonstrating that way," al-Sadr said in a message distributed at the Kufa mosque in southern Iraq, according to a translation by the Washington-based SITE Institute, which tracks militant groups.
In recent weeks, al-Sadr has appeared to be cooperating with U.S. and Iraqi troops as they implement an enhanced security plan in Baghdad and other parts of the country, even as he has continued to criticize the American presence in Iraq.
On Friday, thousands of al-Sadr's followers demonstrated in several parts of Iraq, including Sadr City, to protest the U.S. role. They denounced the neighborhood security outposts and garrisons being set up under the plan and demanded a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Al-Sadr's statement came a day after gunmen attacked a convoy carrying the mayor of Sadr City, Rahim al-Darraji, leaving him seriously wounded and killing at least two of his bodyguards. Al-Darraji, an al-Sadr appointee, took part in negotiations with U.S. officials to allow American troops to conduct security sweeps and build a garrison in Sadr City.
It was unclear whether al-Sadr, whose Mahdi Army militia has often attacked U.S. and Iraqi forces, was issuing a call to arms.
"The statement calls for calming down and self-control and to be careful and cautious of the occupation forces and their agents, because we have become surrounded by them from all sides," said Haider al-Tarfy, a senior al-Sadr representative.
As U.S. troops have carried out raids across Sadr City as part of the security plan, the Mahdi Army has lain low. Friday's statement appeared to address recent public comments by U.S. military officials that the militia's low profile represented tacit cooperation with the security plan.
"And here you are standing up for the support of your beloved city; this city which the occupier wanted to harm, and tarnish its reputation by spreading false propaganda and rumors and claiming that there are negotiation and collaboration between you and them," the statement continued. "But I am sure that you consider them as your enemies."
Al-Sadr's whereabouts are known. U.S. military officials believe he has fled to Iran; his supporters say he remains in Iraq.
One high-level Sadr City official said Friday that he believes the Sadr City mayor was targeted for working with the Americans and backing the security plan, and that al-Sadr's militia is probably to blame. He declined to be identified further out of fear for his life.
"The investigation is still in the beginning," the official said. "But all the accusations are against the Mahdi Army."
Two Mahdi Army leaders reached Friday denied the militia was behind the shooting.
In other developments:
-- The U.S. military said a soldier was killed by an explosion during fighting in Salahuddin, while a Marine died in a noncombat incident in Anbar province. Both died Thursday.
-- Britain reported that 10 inmates at the Shaibah detention facility in Basra escaped this week after swapping clothes -- and then places -- with visitors who came to see them. Nine of the 10 impostors who switched places with the detainees remained in custody in Basra, but no further details were released.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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