Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Anti-US Cleric Returns to Iraq With Familiar Message

   Moqtada al-Sadr tells huge crowd to resist US

   VOA News 08 January 2011
   Anti-American   cleric  Muqtada  al-Sadr,  center,  is  surrounded  by
   bodyguards in the Shiite city of Najaf, Iraq, 06 Jan 2011

Photo: AP

   Anti-American   cleric  Muqtada  al-Sadr,  center,  is  surrounded  by
   bodyguards in the Shiite city of Najaf, Iraq, 06 Jan 2011

   Anti-American  Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has urged his supporters
   to  continue  to  oppose the United States in his first public address
   since returning to Iraq from more than three years in exile.
   Sadr  told  thousands  of  cheering  supporters amassed in the city of
   Najaf Saturday to resist the United States and other occupiers of Iraq
   by any means necessary.
   He  also asked his followers to support the new government, as long as
   the government acts to serve the Iraqi people.
   Sadr  returned  to  his  family  home in Iraq Wednesday.  He had been
   living in Iran.  It is not clear how long he plans to stay in Iraq.

   The  radical  cleric emerged as an influential U.S. foe after the 2003
   invasion  of Iraq, leading two uprisings carried out by his Mehdi Army
   against American forces.
   His  political  movement worked out a deal to be part of the new Iraqi
   government  after  last  year's  disputed  elections,  and its support
   helped Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki secure a second term.

.