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Iraqi Shias protest in holy city Iraqi Shias protest in holy city
(about 2 hours later)
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Shias have gathered in the holy city of Najaf for a mass demonstration calling for US-led troops to leave Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Shias have demonstrated in the holy city of Najaf, calling for US-led troops to leave Iraq.
Up to one million people were expected in Najaf after an appeal by Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, who branded US forces "your arch enemy" in a statement. The protesters were responding to an appeal by cleric Moqtada Sadr, who branded US forces "your arch enemy" in a statement.
He called Iraqis to Najaf to mark four years since US troops entered Baghdad and ended the rule of Saddam Hussein. The demonstration marks four years since US troops entered Baghdad and ended the rule of Saddam Hussein.
Baghdad has been placed under curfew for the duration of the anniversary.Baghdad has been placed under curfew for the duration of the anniversary.
A 24-hour ban on movement by all vehicles, for fear of car bomb attacks, began in the city at 0500 (0100 GMT) on Monday, where four years ago a giant statue of Saddam Hussein was torn down, symbolising the fall of his regime.A 24-hour ban on movement by all vehicles, for fear of car bomb attacks, began in the city at 0500 (0100 GMT) on Monday, where four years ago a giant statue of Saddam Hussein was torn down, symbolising the fall of his regime.
Followers of Moqtada Sadr play a key role in Iraq, with the Mehdi Army said to be heavily involved in the sectarian violence of the past year. US praise
The BBC's Jim Muir, in Baghdad, says the Americans regard the cleric and his militia as the biggest danger to Iraq today. The protest in Najaf, 160km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, broke up after about three hours.
However, the militia is reported to have stood down in response to a nearly eight-week-old US "surge", or security drive in Baghdad. Moqtada Sadr did not attend the protests
Mr Sadr is not expected to attend the protestsThe cleric did not appear personally, but called for the mass protest in a statement issued on Sunday. The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says there were no reports of violence as protesters waved flags, sang and chanted slogans calling for an end to the occupation.
"In order to end the occupation, you will go out and demonstrate," he said. There was no sign of Moqtada Sadr himself.
He asked Iraqis not to "walk alongside the occupiers, because they are your arch enemy" and to turn all their efforts on US forces. He has not been seen in public since US and Iraqi army forces began a new security drive in and around Baghdad two months ago.
But he warned followers against violence, urging the Mehdi Army and Iraqi security forces "to be to be patient and to unite your efforts against the enemy and not against the sons of Iraq". The US believes he is in Iran. Our correspondent says the Americans regard the cleric and his militia, the Mehdi Army, as the biggest danger to Iraq today.
Thousands of Shias responded by heading to Najaf, 160km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, in tightly-packed buses and cars. The militia is said to be heavily involved in the sectarian violence of the past year, although it was reported to have stood down in response to the security "surge", which involves an extra 30,000 US troops.
Some demonstrators burned US flags and shouted slogans: "No, no, no to America... Moqtada, yes, yes, yes," they chanted. The US military praised the peaceful nature of the protest.
Many demonstrators arrived in Najaf carrying the Iraqi flag.
HAVE YOUR SAY The march is a peaceful demonstration and largely symbolic of the anti-US sentiment growing in Iraq Stuart, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The march is a peaceful demonstration and largely symbolic of the anti-US sentiment growing in Iraq Stuart, UK Send us your comments
One members of Mr Sadr's organisation, Salah al-Obaydi, called the rally a "call for liberation". Spokesman Col Steven Boylan said: "This is the right to assemble, the right to free speech - they didn't have that under the former regime."
In a statement issued on Sunday, the cleric asked Iraqis not to "walk alongside the occupiers, because they are your arch enemy" and to turn all their efforts on US forces.
But he warned followers against violence, urging the Mehdi Army and Iraqi security forces "to be to be patient and to unite your efforts against the enemy and not against the sons of Iraq".
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Thousands of Shias had headed to Najaf in tightly-packed buses and cars.
Press angry four years on
Some demonstrators burned US flags and shouted slogans: "No, no, no to America... Moqtada, yes, yes, yes.".
One member of Mr Sadr's organisation, Salah al-Obaydi, called the rally a "call for liberation".
"We're hoping that by next year's anniversary, we will be an independent and liberated Iraq with full sovereignty," he told the Associated Press."We're hoping that by next year's anniversary, we will be an independent and liberated Iraq with full sovereignty," he told the Associated Press.
Cars were banned from entering the city for a 24-hour period but buses were carrying demonstrators to the city centre. Clashes continued on Monday between coalition forces and followers loyal to the cleric in the town of Diwaniya.
'Nationalist chord' US and Iraqi forces began an operation to root out militiamen there on Friday.
Moqtada Sadr's supporters hold a crucial block of seats in Iraq's parliament, giving them an influential voice in Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's government.Moqtada Sadr's supporters hold a crucial block of seats in Iraq's parliament, giving them an influential voice in Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's government.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6538229.stm">Press angry four years on Correspondents say the symbolism of his call for thousands of followers to gather in Najaf, where he keeps his headquarters, may be a sign the cleric is preparing to return to the spotlight. Mr Maliki is in Tokyo where he met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
US officials say Mr Sadr has sought a haven in Iran in recent months as US troops began implementing the US "surge" against Shia militias and Sunni insurgents. They signed previously agreed loans worth 103bn yen ($86bn; £44bn) for four economic projects.
US President George W Bush is sending an extra 30,000 troops to Iraq, mainly to Baghdad. Mr Maliki thanked Tokyo for its support and said: "Iraq has escaped the constraints of the past and is engaged in new challenges. The country is one and the people are one."
Violence has continued with a succession of bomb attacks thought to be linked to Sunni insurgents, but Mr Sadr's followers have been largely quiet, Iraqi officials say.
However, renewed fighting flared over the weekend, as followers loyal to the cleric fought intense battles with US and Iraqi troops in the town of Diwaniya.
The US military, meanwhile, said six of its soldiers were killed on Sunday, including four in Baghdad