WAR: Protests Mark Second Anniversary of Saddam's Fall, page 1

#e protestors marked the second anniversary of the capture of Baghdad with a rally in Firdos Sqare, the site of the toppling of the statue of Saddam. The rally, made of mostly of #e followers of rebel cleric Moqtada Al Sadr, was mostly peaceful. Effiges of US president, Bush, and English PM, Tony Blair, as well as American and British flags were burned, as protestors demanded the withdrawl of coalition forces.

www.reuters.com
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of followers of a rebel Shi'ite cleric marched in Baghdad on Saturday to denounce the U.S. presence in Iraq and demand a speedy trial of Saddam Hussein on the second anniversary of his overthrow.

Chanting "No, no to the occupiers," men loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr streamed from the poor Shi'ite district of Sadr City to Firdos Square in central Baghdad where Saddam's statue was torn down two years ago, in a peaceful show of strength.

The square and side streets were quickly packed with crowds waving Iraqi flags and brandishing effigies of Saddam, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush.

"No America! No Saddam! Yes to Islam!" many chanted. One group of demonstrators burned an American flag.

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Protestors were allowed into the square to protest under tight security. Iraqi forces searched most of the protestors for weapons as they entered the square.

Even though there was a close watch on the proceedings by Iraqi security, this event was allowed to happen. To me this is a sign of a new and democratic Iraq.

Previously protests of this scale were often organized and sanctioned by the government of Saddam. Now people are free to protest even if the opinions are contrary to the government.