- Thousands of Iraqis protested in the streets of Baghdad and southern cities yesterday to condemn Bahrain's violent crackdown on an uprising a year ago, reports AFP.

The protests in Shiite-majority areas were organized by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Thousands of Iraqis attended the Najaf and Amara protests and hundreds participated in the Basra, Nasiriyah and Hilla rallies, according to AFP. Only a few dozen took part in Diwaniyah.

"All of these protesters have come to say to the Bahraini leaders 'Stop what you are doing to the people of Bahrain'," Mohaned al-Gharawi, a Sadrist official taking part in the Najaf demonstration, tolf AFP.

Protestors chanted "Bahrain! Free, Free Bahrain!" and sported banners criticizing Saudi Arabia's alleged interference in the Gulf monarchy.

"The Bahraini king is a king only to himself, not for the oppressed people of Bahrain," said Sadrist Movement official Ibrahim al-Jabari in Sadr City, north Baghdad.

Jabari was also critical of the Arab League for blocking Syria's attendance at the upcoming summit in Baghdad but allowing Bahrain to take part.

The Bahraini protests last year in the capital Manama aimed to end the monarchy of King Hamad and achieve greater political freedom and equality for the Shia population.

Iraq was critical of Bahrain when it sought support from Gulf Cooperation Council members to use military intervention in last year's protests.





(AKnews)