Increased Shiite rejection of occupation

The Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader has strongly denounced the position of the American- British occupation forces concerning the clashes which erupted this week in al-Sader city in the outskirts of Baghdad.

In yesterday's ( Friday) sermon at al-Koufa mosque, 120 Km to the southern of Baghdad, al-Sader condemned what was carried out by the coalition forces in the cities of al- Basra, al-Amara and al-Dewaneyah and in al Sader city.

He added that it is time that al-Hawza -- the highest Shiite religious authority to run the government as the American occupation forces are unable to run it.

Thousands of Iraqi Shiites who attended Friday's prayer in al-Sader city took part in a demonstration of protest against the killing of one Iraqi and wounding other four by bullets of the American occupation forces in one of Baghdad's suburbs.

The participants chanted anti- occupation slogans and threatened while raising green and black banners to launch a people's revolution similar to that of 1920 against the British colonialism if the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader orders.