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Friday, 29 March 2024

"No to America": Thousands of Iraqis rally against U.S. military presence

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'No to America': Thousands of Iraqis rally against U.S. military presence
"No to America": Thousands of Iraqis rally against U.S. military presence

Thousands of Iraqis rallied at two central Baghdad intersections on Friday after a prominent cleric called for a "million strong" protest against the American military presence, following the U.S. killing of an Iranian general and an Iraqi militia chief.

The march called by Moqtada al-Sadr aims to pressure Washington to pull out its troops, but many anti-government protesters fear it could overshadow their separate, months-long demonstrations that have challenged Iran-backed Shi'ite groups' grip on power.

Sadr opposes all foreign interference in Iraq but has recently aligned himself more closely with Iran, whose allies have dominated state institutions since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Throngs of marchers started gathering early on Friday at al-Hurriya Square in central Baghdad and near the city's main university, Reuters witnesses said.

Marchers avoided Tahrir square, symbol of mass protests against Iraq' ruling elites.

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