Shiites Organize March Against Sectarian Violence
Nji Che - All Headline News Staff Writer Baghdad, Iraq (AHN) - Several thousand Shiite civilians, who guard neighborhoods against terrorists, staged a march through the streets of Baghdad on Wednesday in a drive to showcase their force in a country that has seen sectarian violence persist over several months. Reuters quotes Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, an influential Shiite leader, as telling a crowd, "We have to benefit from this wide popular base and the state and Iraqi people should form these popular regional committees from the best of our young men to face terrorism." The young men, who appeared in civilian uniforms and headbands, sang during the peaceful march. A speaker called on them to crack down on former President Saddam Hussein's followers accused of mounting a Sunni Arab insurgency against the new government. Al-Hakim said, "They (the young men) will defend people of districts; Sunnis, Shiites, Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen. They do not differentiate between anybody. They will provide support for the official security apparatus." The group included members of the Badr Organization. The organization is an armed Shiite group accused by Sunni Arabs of operating a firing squad. The group has dismissed the allegation. The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, has plans to disarm militia groups in the country. Many fear such a move could pave the way to a civil war. More U.S. troops have been redeployed in the Iraqi capit |
