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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lurqer who wrote (41222)	4/3/2004 3:11:34 PM
From: lurqer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Shiite Militia Marches in Iraq To Back Cleric Critical of U.S. By REUTERS BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 3 (Reuters) — Thousands of supporters of a virulently anti-American Shiite cleric, Moktada al-Sadr, marched through the streets of Baghdad on Saturday. Many were members of Mr. Sadr's militia, the Mahdi Army. They paraded through Sadr City, the sprawling Shiite slum in the northeast of the Iraqi capital that is Mr. Sadr's power base. It was the militia's first major show of strength in months. Some of the marchers wore black masks, and many carried banners and pictures of the cleric and of his father, who was assassinated in 1999. They were not armed. An American and an Israeli flag were set on fire. "This parade of the Mahdi Army was ordered by his eminency, the general commander of the army," said Sadiq al-Hashimi, a cleric who was leading a group of marchers. He was referring to Mr. Sadr. "We are here to show the world our might," he said. "This army can be a striking force at any moment, it's a time bomb that will go off at a time and place it chooses." Mr. Sadr, 31, has often spoken out against the occupation and against the Iraqi Governing Council, which Washington appointed. A senior military official in Baghdad has estimated the number of the Mahdi Army in the "high hundreds to thousands" and said its antioccupation stand "concerns us greatly." The Mahdi Army has kept a relatively low profile since October, when members of the militia ambushed American soldiers in Sadr City. Two soldiers and two Iraqis were killed. Last Sunday, the American-led authorities closed down a newspaper that is considered Mr. Sadr's mouthpiece, accusing it of inciting violence. His supporters have held several major protests since then. Also in Baghdad, gunmen killed a police chief who served in Mahmudiya, a town just south of the capital. He was leaving his home in Baghdad when they attacked. The Associated Press reported that shortly afterward, according to a police officer, Khaldoon al-Gurairi, six attackers shot at a four-man police patrol in Mahmudiya, killing one and wounding three. A 60-year-old bystander was also killed. On Friday, the police chief in Kufa, further south, was shot dead along with a colleague. Insurgents have increasingly singled out members of the fledgling Iraqi security forces. The American authorities in Iraq have warned that attacks are likely to increase ahead of the planned transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis on June 30. nytimes.com lurqer