Thousands of Iraqis protest against attacks

THOUSANDS of angry Shi’ites rallied yesterday in Baghdad’s Sadr City slum against a spree of attacks that killed almost 200 people and to protest what they claim was American backing for Sunni Arabs politicians who have supported insurgent groups.

The demonstrators chanted slogans against US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and moderate Sunni Arab leaders, but reserved most of their ire for hard-liners such as Saleh al-Mutlaq, head of the Sunni Arab National Dialogue Front who have complained of widespread fraud during the December 15 elections.

"We're going to crush Saleh al-Mutlaq with our slippers," they chanted as they marched, many armed with automatic weapons.