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Iraq's Sadr Calls for 'Humiliating' US Troop Exit

Reuters

   Populist Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Sunday a
   parliamentary resolution calling on the government to end foreign troop
   presence did not go far enough and called on local and foreign militia
   groups to unite.

   "I consider this a weak response insufficient against American
   violation of Iraqi sovereignty and regional escalation," Sadr, who
   leads the largest bloc in parliament, said in a letter to the assembly
   read out by a supporter.

   Sadr said a security agreement with the United States should be
   canceled immediately, the U.S. embassy should be closed down, U.S.
   troops must be expelled in a humiliating manner, and communication with
   the U.S. government should be criminalized.

   "Finally, I call specifically on the Iraqi resistance groups and the
   groups outside Iraq more generally to meet immediately and announce the
   formation of the International Resistance Legions," he said.

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