Around 100 members of a powerful tribe based in southern Iraq Friday threatened retribution against US forces unless they immediately freed their chief, who was accused of harboring officials of Saddam Hussein's deposed regime. "Unless Sheikh Mahdi Raham Sagban is released within two days, there will be retribution against the Americans, who should be aware that we have weapons and that we are one of Iraq's most powerful tribes," Mokhless Hamza Abdul Sattar al-Badri said during a demonstration in Baghdad.
The demonstrators said their Badr tribe counts 1.2 million members, chiefly in its stronghold of al-Badr in al-Qadisiya province, 180 kilometers south of Baghdad. Sheikh Mahdi "was arrested by US soldiers 15 days ago at the tribe's guesthouse and he has since been languishing in a Baghdad jail," said his son, Imad Mahdi. Clad in traditional long robes and donning the Arab chequered headdress known as keffiyeh, the tribesmen raised banners threatening to exact "revenge from the Americans, regardless of the consequences, if Sheikh Mahdi Raham Sagban is not freed."
| Good thing you're not worried about consequences, guys. Just out of curiosity, how many times did you pull that crap on Sammy? |
Accounts differed of the reasons behind the tribal chief's arrest. Some protesters said he sheltered fellow tribesmen who had been senior officials of Saddam's Baath Party. Others said Sheikh Mahdi himself had been a Baathist "like all Iraqis under Saddam," while some claimed that his tribe had "suffered under the old regime." 
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