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Iraqis march for al-Sadr
20/08/2004 16:19 - (SA)
Baghdad - Hundreds of Iraqis, mostly football fans lured by the promise of free shirts, walked and danced through central Baghdad on Friday carrying posters of disgraced Pentagon favourite Ahmed Chalabi, but chanting their support for Shiite radical leader Moqtada Sadr.
The younths gathered in Al-Tahrir Square and marched towards the capital's heavily fortified administrative compound to protest against the government's threat to launch a decisive assault against Sadr's militiamen in their stronghold in the central holy city of Najaf.
Although they held in their hands banners supporting the secular Chalabi, on their lips was praise for Sadr, whose militia has been engaged in more than two weeks of fighting with US-led Iraqi forces in the historic heart of Najaf.
"Welcome to the symbol of free Iraq - Chalabi," read a placard brandished by one demonstrator, even as he chanted: "Stop killing people in Najaf".
"Long live Moqtada," shouted Maher Masan, a 19-year-old football fan from the Al-Jihad neighbourhood of west Baghdad. In his hand was a placard with Chalabi's photograph on it.
'Football club requested we join the march'
Masan said he had joined the march at the request of senior members of his local football club, who had been asked to provide support for a rally by Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress (INC).
"We were told we would be given sports items such as T-shirts and football equipment if we participated in the march," said Masan, showing off a green T-shirt bearing the name of Spanish footballing ace Raul Gonzalez Blanco.
"So we came, but we are supporting Sadr," he said.
Masan's friend Ali Kasim, 24, said he had leapt at the opportunity of picking up some freebies and demonstrating his support for the Shiite militiamen at the same time.
"We want to show what we feel about the government's plan for Sadr and also hope to get something in return for being here today," said Kasim. "They told us we would be taken care of."
Charged up by the success of Iraq's mens' national team in reaching the last eight at the Olympics in Athens, many young fans like Masan and Kasim braved the August heat to join the demonstration.
What had started as a timid crowd of a few dozen supporters of Chalabi, within hours became a rally of more than 500 people.
March organiser Mithal al-Alusi of the INC said he had no problem with Sadr sympathisers joining the march as the rights of all groups needed to be respected in the new Iraq.
"We want to convey the message that human rights in Iraq should not be violated now," said Alusi.
"Be it Sadr and his men or Chalabi, they all deserve their rights and the government should not kill their democratic rights or kill people of Iraq."
An Iraqi judge has issued a arrest warrant against Chalabi in a banknote forgery case, which his supporters charge is politically motivated.
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