“The slogans are clear: no to America, no to the occupation, no to any agreement which would leave US troops here a moment longer. One of Moqtada al-Sadr’s aids [Sheik Abdul-Hadi al-Mohammadawi] read out a message from him urging Iraqi Members of Parliament not to betray their country by approving the draft agreement: ‘Anybody who tells you the agreement will end the American occupation,’ he said, ‘or it will give Iraq its sovereignty back, is a liar.’ . . . Moqtada al-Sadr’s opposition is clear for all to see and implacable, but there are other Shiite factions close to Iran which may also swing against the accord. Some Sunni groups also have reservations. Though it took months to hammer out, the acceptance of the agreement here is by no means certain. Jim Muir, BBC News, Baghdad.”
Cf. Press TV, “Iraq Holds Massive Anti-US Rally” (18 October 2008); “Iraqi Protesters Urge US Withdrawal” (11 October 2008); “‘US Assassinates SOFA Opponents'” (10 October 2008); “‘US Using Debts to Blackmail Iraq'” (9 October 2008); “Iraq: SOFA Must Be Discussed with Neighbors” (8 October 2008).
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