Thousands protest in Iraq to demand ouster of US troops

The American military presence has been a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Soleimani

A statement by the influential cleric Moqtada Sadr called for the closing of Iraqi airspace to US military

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Iraqis gather in Baghdad to demand an end to the presence of US forces in their country. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:24pm, 24 Jan 2020Updated: 3:27am, 25 Jan 2020

Thousands of supporters of populist Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr gathered in Baghdad on Friday for a rally to demand the ouster of US troops, putting the protest-hit capital on edge.

The march rattled the separate, months-old protest movement that has gripped the capital and the Shiite-majority south since October, demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability.

In the early hours of Friday, thousands of men, women and children of all ages massed under grey skies in the Jadiriyah district of east Baghdad.

“Get out, get out, occupier!” some shouted, while others chanted, “Yes to sovereignty!”

A representative of Sadr took to the stage at the protest site and read out a statement by the influential Shiite cleric and populist politician.

It called for all foreign forces to leave Iraq, the cancellation of Iraq’s security agreements with the US, the closure of Iraqi airspace to American military and surveillance aircraft and for US President Donald Trump not to be “arrogant” when addressing Iraqi officials.

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