Baghdad Clerics Decry a U.S. 'War Against Islam'

[QuietStorm]

Shiites warn troops to stay out of district

Robyn Dixon
Los Angeles Times
Aug. 16, 2003 12:00 AM

BAGHDAD - Shiite Muslim clerics in a poor neighborhood of northeast Baghdad said Friday that the U.S. military had declared war against Islam and warned U.S. forces to stay out of the district, where U.S. troops opened fire on a crowd this week.

Tens of thousands of worshipers carrying religious banners gathered at Friday prayers in the center of the slum, sending a powerful signal about the level of anger in the community over Wednesday's shootout between protesters and troops, which occurred after a U.S. helicopter dislodged a religious banner from a tower.

"America and Zionism have declared war against Islam and its sanctuary. That is why one of their helicopters tried to remove the banner of righteousness," Sheik Abdul-Hadi Darraji told the crowd before prayers.

"I call on everybody to condemn this flagrant aggression of this sacred place."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0816iraq16.html

This was in print today btw

here is the original article for those that are registered It has the title I placed on post. Same article. I do not know why the reprinted versions title is different.

Baghdad Clerics Decry a U.S. 'War Against Islam'
* Shiite Muslim leaders in a neighborhood where American troops fired into a crowd send mixed messages of protest and peace.

By Robyn Dixon, Times Staff Writer

BAGHDAD -- Shiite Muslim clerics in a poor neighborhood of northeast Baghdad said Friday that the U.S. military had declared war against Islam and warned American forces to stay out of the district, where U.S. troops opened fire on a crowd this week.

See it is the same article
http://www.latimes.com/la-fg-iraq16aug16,1,228205.story