Shiites hold anti-US protest in Baghdad, demand release of clerics

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20031007/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_us_shiite_demo&cid=1514&ncid=1473

BAGHDAD (AFP) - US soldiers surrounded a Baghdad mosque where thousands of Iraqis demanded the release of two Shiite clerics who had publicly denounced the Americans, an AFP correspondent reported.

"Today we hold banners, tomorrow we pick up our guns," the crowd shouted, as a US helicopter hovered overhead at the Ali al-Baih mosque in Bayaa neighborhood, where about 100 American soldiers surrounded the protest briefly before leaving as the crowd swelled.

The demonstrators, estimated at more than 4,000, accused the Americans of arresting Shiite clerics Moayad Kazrajy and Jaleel al-Shumari on Monday.

The US military had no confirmation of the arrests, but last week US soldiers and Iraqis skirmished outside the mosque.

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[LeftistGorilla]

1. A warning to the US occupying troops...

fighting near any mosque is a very bad idea...

[bif]

2. How come they don't have 1st Ammendment zones

Like we do here?

[northernsoul]

3. and the Shias were the ones we were hoping

would warm up to us quickly?

I'm sure the Kurds are going to be just thrilled to no have Turkish troops as part of the occupation force now.

Voila! We've managed to enrage all of Iraq's major ethnic and religious groups! Hip Hip Hooray for us!

btw, what to you think we'll do to piss off the Chaldeans?

[mmm]

4. The Chaldeans!

Love that name. Haven't thought about them in a while.