Five Sadr supporters wounded in Iraq demo (police open fire)

[Barrett808]

Five Sadr supporters wounded in Iraq demo
Sadr Supporters clash with police in demonstration Kufi following their leader’s fiery sermon.

KUFA, Iraq - Five supporters of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr were wounded Friday in a demonstration following the reading of a fiery sermon written by their leader, hospital sources said.

"If you leave us in peace, we will leave you in peace. You should be aware of the fact that the Mehdi Army is still alive and has its finger on the trigger," Sheikh Aws al-Khafaji said, reading a sermon by Sadr in the Kufa mosque in central Iraq.

He was referrring to the Sadr movement's militia, which pledged to give up its armed rebellion following a deadly standoff with US troops in the shrine city of Najaf last summer.

"The government we have been expecting for so long should take concrete action in favour of the prisoners from the Mehdi Army and the followers of the Sadr movement. If you don't free our prisoners, I am ready to die as a martyr," he added.

(more)

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=13436

[bemildred]

1. Bad mistake. nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. Ruh-Roh

The Shi'a have been remarkably patient re: half-assed Iraqi government since the Battle of Najaf and the elections. Does the US and its comprador regime really want to stir up that hornet's nest again, what with the Sunni blowing the shit out of everything the last two weeks?