By NNN-QNA
Washington : The United States hailed the call made by Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr for a protest on the fifth anniversary of US invasion into Baghdad as being a sign of democracy that was not existing during the former regime in Iraq.
US state department spokesman Tom Casey said those who oppose the Iraqi government, including al Sadr supporters, can now protest freely in the streets of Baghdad and other Iraqi cities.
al Sadr party has called upon Iraqis to walk out in Baghdad streets on April 9 to demonstrate against US occupation, the demonstration, however, was supposed to be launched in al Najaf, but was changed later to take place in Baghdad, al Sadr party spokesman Sheikh Salah al Obeidi said.
He added that many reasons were behind the changing of the demonstration area, for most, the big affect of Baghdad as a capital which can bring all Iraqi factions together in the gathering.
Meanwhile, thousands of al Sadr supporters and tribe leaders from al Sadr city, Basra and other cities have gathered after Friday prayers, demanding the lift of the tight security procedures imposed over the Shiite areas and the release of the arrested as well.