A powerful Shia Muslim movement warned US troops on Friday not to enter Baghdad's largest Shia neighbourhood after a gun battle there on Thursday night killed two US soldiers and two Iraqis.
It was the worst clash yet between Iraqi Shia militiamen and US troops. Shia leaders on Friday were calling for restraint from their followers even as they branded America a "servant of Israel". US forces are keen to avoid alienating Iraq's Shia population, who until now have not joined in attacks against US forces seen mainly in Sunni areas.
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In a Friday prayer service to a crowd gathered outside the headquarters, Sheikh Abdel Mahdi Darraji, a representative of [Muqtada al-Sadr, a popular Shia preacher], on Friday likened the US to a "terrorist organisation" bent on dominating the Middle East. He called on the US-appointed Governing Council to resign "for the sake of their honour" and warned US troops to stay away from Sadr City.
Good to see we're doing everything we can to make sure the Shia are on our side.
A non-violent, counter-dominant, left-liberal, possibly charismatic, quasi anarcho-libertarian Quaker's take on politics, volleyball, and other esoterica.
Lo alecha ha-m'lacha ligmor, v'lo atah ben chorin l'hibateyl mimenah.
