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Shiahs’ Demonstrations Not to Violate Security in Baghdad: Assistant Mayor

Politics Materials 21 November 2008 16:18 (UTC +04:00)
Shiahs’ Demonstrations Not to Violate Security in Baghdad: Assistant Mayor

Azerbaijan, Baku, 21 November / Trend corr. U.Sadikhova/ Today's demonstration of the Muqtada al-Sadr's Shiah organization will not violate security in Iraq.

The supporters of the Shiah leader al-Sadr are holding a protest action in Baghdad against signing of a security agreement with the United States, which is currently being considered by the Iraqi Parliament, RIA Novosti said.

According to Deputy of Mayor of Baghdad Nain Kaadi, the demonstrations commenced today after the Friday Prayer and ended by afternoon entailing no victims or bloodshed.

"The municipal authorities of Baghdad watched the demonstration, and fortunately it entailed no explosions and clashes between the governmental forces and the members of the movement," Kaadi said to Trend in a telephone conversation from Baghdad.

Parliament's decision on the future of the security agreement is the main political event in Iraq today. Therefore, the security forces of the Iraqi cities, especially Baghdad, intensified their work, he said.

On 16 November, the Iraqi Government led by Nouri Al-Maliki approved the Iraq-U.S. security agreement and submitted it to the Parliament for consideration. The Parliament will make a final decision on 24 November.

According to Kaadi, the rumours that the demonstration was authorized by the Iraqi Shiahs against Sunnis are groundless.

"The main discontent of al-Sadr's supporters is the security agreement. There is no inter-religious motive," he said.

Today's protests of Shiahs did not entail explosions or armed clashes. Therefore, the U.S. forces did not try to disperse the demonstration, Kaadi said.

The correspondent can be contacted at [email protected]

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