Moqtada Al Sadr calls for million-strong march against US forces

Baghdad: Iraqi Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadr has urged his supporters on Thursday to participate in a million-strong march against US “occupation'' on April 9, coinciding with the fift anniversary of Baghdad's fall.

In a statement released by his office, Al Sadr said: “The time has come to express your rejections and raise your voices loud against the unjust occupier and enemy of nations and humanity, and against the horrible massacres committed by the occupier against our honourable people.''

Al Sadr wants his people to converge at Najaf, a site that receives hundreds of thousands of Shiite worshippers annually.

Last week, Iraqi and US forces were embroiled in a conflict with Al Sadr's militia.

The fighting came to an end on Sunday after Al Sadr's instructions to withdraw.