Muqtada al-Sadr, a powerful anti-American Shiite cleric, threatened Saturday to reactivate his militia if US soldiers stay in Iraq beyond this year. His threat followed a US offer to keep troops on if needed.
Muqtada al-Sadr issued a statement to his followers that verged on calling violent action against American troops. He accused the occupation of inciting panic, corruption and unrest amongst Iraqis.
The statement was read to tens of thousands of protesters gathered at Baghdads Mawal Sqaure. Al-Sadr issued the statement from Iran, where he has been studying religion.
"What if the invasion forces will not leave our lands?" he asked in the statement, which was read by his aide Salah al-Obeidi. "What if the U.S. forces and others stay in our beloved lands? What if their companies and embassy headquarters will continue to exist with the American flags hoisted on them? Will you be silent? Will you overlook this?"
The crowd shouted in response, "No, no America. No, no America."
Despite al-Sadrs encouragement to his followers to embrace a peaceful approach to diplomacy during a January visit, he more recently added that should US troops remain in Iraq beyond 2011, followers should retaliate by all means of resistance.
On Saturday, al-Sadr elaborated, explaining that he would train newly armed followers and bring his feared Mahdi Army militia out of retirement. "We will have to adopt (this) approach if they will not leave our country," he said.
