LOC11:38
08:38 GMT
BAGHDAD, Jan 8 (KUNA) -- The chief of Al-Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr,
threatened on Saturday to "pursue the armed resistance against the occupiers"
and urged the government to release imprisoned followers.
Addressing a large rally of his followers in the southern holy city of
Negev, Al-Sadr called for maintaining "the resistance against the occupiers,"
alluding to the American military forces, deployed in the country, assisting
the government in its efforts to restore normalcy to the nation.
"We are still resisting the occupiers militarily and culturally ... Let the
world hear that Iraq still rejects the occupier and the vice," he said, urging
the crowd to repeat after him, "no no to the occupier ... yes yes to the
resistance."
Al-Sadr, who has recently returned to Iraq after nearly three years in
Iran, urged the Iraqis to refrain from infighting and direct guns "against the
occupiers."
The Shiite cleric, who had led two botched armed uprisings against the
allies' backed government after the liberation of Iraq from the defunct
totalitarian regime of Saddam Hussein, indicated that his call was not meant
to carry out full-scale armed action against the allied forces, saying,
"weapons should be solely carried by the assigned people."
He urged the government to set free his imprisoned followers and vowed to
support the government "as long as it remains in the service of the people,"
indicating that in case it deviated from the right course, he would resort to
some "political means to reform it."
Al-Sadr has declared support for Nouri Al-Maliki in his efforts to form a
new government. (end)
ahh.rk
KUNA 081138 Jan 11NNNN