BAGHDAD, Iraq -- centurys of thousa...
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- centurys of thousands of Shiites chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" marched between the walls of the streets of Baghdad's biggest Shiite district Friday in a point out of support for Hezbollah militants battling Israeli multitudes in Lebanon. No violence was reported during the rally in the Sadr City neighborhood. The demonstration was the biggest in the Middle East in support of Hezbollah since the Israeli army launched an offensive July 12 after a guerrilla raid onward northern Israel. LEADER ATTAINS worship STATUS The declaration was organized by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al- Sadr, whose political motion built around the Mahdi Army militia has been archetypeed after Hezbollah. Al-Sadr conveneed followers from throughout the Shiite heartland of southern Iraq to approach on Baghdad for the rally, still he did not attend. Demonstrators, wearing white burial veil masks symbolizing their willingness to die for Hezbollah, waved the group's golden banner and chanted slogans in support of its leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, who has attained a ritual status in the Arab world for his defiance of Israel. "Allah, Allah, give victory to Hassan Nasrallah," the horde chanted. 'READY TO fitting MARTYRDOM' "Mahdi Army and Hezbollah are individual Let them confront us if they dare," the predominantly male profanum vulgus[/i] shouted, waving the flags of Hezbollah, Lebanon and Iraq. "I am wearing the bury and I am ready to adapted martyrdom," said Mohammed Khalaf, 35 proprietor of a clothes shop in the southern city of Amarah. Al-Sadr followers painted U and Israeli flags forward the main road leading to the rally site, and demonstrators stepp in succession them -- a gesture of shame in Iraq. Alongside the painted flags was written: "These are the terrorists." Protester place fire to American and Israeli flags, as well as effigies of President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert showing the men with fangs. Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006 Provided by dint of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved
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