"Thousands of Shiites rallied in the holy city of Najaf on Saturday to protest...."

[rodeodance]

Detention of Shiite leader's son decried

By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer 50 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Thousands of Shiites rallied in the holy city of Najaf on Saturday to protest the nearly 12-hour detention of the eldest son of
Iraq's most influential Shiite politician as he crossed back from
Iran.


Amar al-Hakim, who was taken into custody on Friday, complained Saturday that he was treated rudely and his bodyguards were "strongly abused" by U.S. troops. He said he underwent a body search and was handcuffed and his suitcases were searched after his convoy crossed into Iraq using the same route Washington believes is used to keep powerful Shiite militias flush with weapons and aid.

"Is this the way to deal with a national figure? This does not conform with Iraq's sovereignty," Amar al-Hakim said during a news conference in Najaf.

Even though U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad issued a rapid apology, the decision to hold al-Hakim — and his complaints about his detention — risk touching off a backlash from Shiite leaders at a time when their cooperation is needed most to keep a major security sweep through Baghdad from unraveling..........

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070224/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=Akn7o6fSgXohVY4T453r9A.s0NUE

[frogcycle]

1. all i can say is

Bite me, Amar


""Is this the way to deal with a national figure? This does not conform with Iraq's sovereignty," Amar al-Hakim said during a news conference in Najaf."


They insist their "sovereignty" is so sacrosanct that they can have a ruling elite whose families are untouchable while OUR kids are getting blown to hell trying to stop THEIR civil war?

Man, that comment ALONE is enough to say buh-bye!

Fuck him, the horse he rode in on, his camel, and his terrorist son.

[sojourner]

3. it's not about Iraq and their civil war. it's about a foreign occupying force that

does not value life sending its sons and daughters into a sovereign nation to secure it's wealth -- it's about US!

[frogcycle]

4. well of course

I know that. just sayin' that the "cover story" is so thin as to be nonexistent.

[rodeodance]

2. Hundreds also took to the streets in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City

About 8,000 people demonstrated near the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, against the detention, raising Iraqi flags and pictures of al-Hakim and his father.

"The detention of al-Hakim represents an insult to the Iraqi people," said Hassan al-Shebli, a 45-year-old store owner who was among the protesters. "The Americans should avoid such irresponsible acts if they want to establish stability in the country."

Hundreds also took to the streets in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City and the southern Shiite cities of Karbala and Basra, but the protests were relatively small considering the influence of the al-Hakim family, indicating they were mainly aimed at sending a warning to the Americans.

"What happened is unacceptable," Shiite lawmaker Hamid Majid Moussa told Al-Forat television. "The Iraqi government and the American forces must put an end to such transgressions," Shiite lawmaker Hamid Majid Moussa told Al-Forat television.