Thousands of Iraqis protest against foreign intervention

[News_Editor]

Thousands of Iraqis protest against foreign intervention

2011-09-17 14:07:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAGHDAD (BNO NEWS) -- Thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in the center of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Friday to protest against foreign intervention in the country, the Aswat al-Iraq news agency reported on Saturday.

Thousands of citizens gathered in central Tahrir square and Sadr City, a suburb district of Baghdad, after Friday prayers concluded to demand an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. They also demanded better social conditions and services as well as the redistribution of a percentage of oil revenues among people.

In Tahrir Square, protesters denounced the intervention of neighboring countries, including Iran and Kuwait, in Iraqi internal affairs. According to Aswat al-Iraq's correspondent, citizens and civil activists denounced Iranian and Kuwaiti violations against Iraqi sovereignty and the Iranian shelling of Kurdistan borders and targeting civilians in the region.

The protesters also denounced the U.S. troops. Less than 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, more than eight years since the U.S.-led war began on March 20, 2003. According to a security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, all U.S. forces will be withdrawn by the end of 2011.

Last Friday, thousands of Iraqi citizens also took part in anti-government demonstrations across the country. The demands of the demonstrators varied from one group to another, but the majority demanded better services, early elections and an end to corruption.

In the past weeks, civil activists have been using social networks to organize the protests against the government, corruption, and the lack of services. Protesters last week also denounced the assassination of radio journalist Hadi al-Mehdi.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-09-17

[coma]

Ahhh!! Don't you just love democracy???

[maidu]

Reminds me of a line in an old blues song sung by Billie Holiday; "Get out of here, give me some money too."

Here's how it gets re-written to fit the Iraq situation as sung to Uncle Sam;

"Get out of here, and on your way out, dump a a bunch more crates of shrink wrapped hundred dollar bills on the tarmac."

[elgato]

Ahhh!! Don't you just love democracy???

At least they can protest now.

[flying]

The protesters also denounced the U.S. troops. Less than 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq,

The reporter seems to have left out that while there are Less than 50k troops still there

that as of March 2010 there were still 95,461 DOD contractor personnel in Iraq ....just an oversight I'm sure

They also demanded better social conditions and services as well as the redistribution of a percentage of oil revenues among people.

Don't they know the oil revenues have already been redistributed ?

If not they should watch Libya who soon will also get oil revenues redistributed.

Edited September 18, 2011 by flying

[chuckd]

Everybody get a grip. These are supporters of Moqtada Al-Sadr, who is an Iranian clone.

[Naam]

Everybody get a grip. These are supporters of Moqtada Al-Sadr, who is an Iranian clone.

all Iraqis who are not followers of al-Sadr just love foreign intervention and U.S. occupation

[chuckd]

Everybody get a grip. These are supporters of Moqtada Al-Sadr, who is an Iranian clone.

all Iraqis who are not followers of al-Sadr just love foreign intervention and U.S. occupation

What has your sarcasm got to do with the subject article?

Quoting the opening sentence of the article:

"Thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in the center of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Friday to protest against foreign intervention in the country, the Aswat al-Iraq news agency reported on Saturday."