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From: Bart (129.171.32.13)
Protests Erupt in Five Iraqi Cities Over Najaf BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Mass protests against the U.S. assault on the sacred Shi'ite Muslim city of Najaf broke out in five Iraqi cities on Friday, with some demonstrators calling for interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to step down. In one of the biggest protests, enraged Iraqis in the southern town of Diwaniya swarmed over the local office of his political party, ripping down signs and throwing rocks. A military offensive by U.S. and Iraqi forces against militiamen of radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has inflamed passions among Iraq (news - web sites)'s majority Shi'ites. Thousands also protested in central Baghdad, Kufa and Samawa. The military campaign infuriated residents of the Sunni-dominated town of Falluja, a hotbed of resistance. About 3 thousand demonstrators marched in the center of Falluja carrying pictures of Sadr and placards denouncing the U.S. bombing of Najaf, where the cleric and his followers are surrounded. "Long live Sadr. Falluja stands by Najaf against America," the demonstrators shouted.
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