Moqtada al-Sadr describes the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq as the only solution to the sectarian violence in the country. The "I ask the government to end the occupation," Sadr's representative Sheikh Sattar al-Battat read a message to the worshippers attending the first Friday prayers after Ramadan in Baghdad's Sadr city.
"The government must send out the US troops and free all Iraqi prisoners held by them,"the statement added, ruling out any sectarian violence between the Shias and the Sunnis after Iraqi sovereignty was restored after the withdrawal of all 'occupying forces'.
Following the weekly prayers, Sadr's supporters set fire to an effigy in stars and stripes as well as American and Israeli flags. The crowd waved an Iraqi flag and chanted slogans in protest to the continued presence of foreign troops in their country.
Sadr's anti-occupation movement called for unity between the religious groups, advising pro-Sadr Shias to cooperate with Iraqi security forces, "even if they get angry with you when they see you carrying a photograph of Moqtada (Sadr)."
"Be kind to them... Don't get into arguments," the influential cleric urged.
Sadr movement remains one of the outspoken critics of the US military present in Iraq, vowing to lead regular street protests until the governments halts negotiations with US officials on a long-term security pact known as the SOFA. The deal, which Iraqi and US governments planned to draw up by late July, would determine the future status of American soldiers whose UN mandate in Iraq expires December.