(VOI) -- Thousands of Sadrists on Friday staged a demonstration in Baghdad condemning the long-term security agreement to be signed by Iraq and the U.S., said a source from al-Sadr's office in Baghdad. "Around 5,000 Sadrists demonstrated today after the Friday prayers headed by Sheikh Asaad al-Nasseri, who demanded the government to reject the agreement, even if it would be a friendship agreement," the source told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI). "The demonstration occurred at the prayers' location near al-Sadr's office, Russafa (eastern side) of Baghdad," he said.On Thursday, Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr called on the Iraqi government to avoid signing a long-term security agreement with the United States, pledging "political and popular support" if the government does not sign the deal. "The Iraqi people must rally their ranks to stand up against this agreement through political and peaceful means," Sadr said in a statement released by his office and received by VOI.
| "The principle of resistance is a legitimate one. However, arms should not be in the hands of anyone," Sadr said, stressing the need to have "arms exclusively in the hands of the resistance". |