Sunnis rally against al-Maliki’s policies

BAGHDAD - Reuters

Protesters chant slogans against Iraqi government in Fallujah. AP photo

Tens of thousands of Iraqi Sunnis poured onto the streets after Friday prayers in a show of force against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Around 60,000 people blocked the main road through the city of Falluja, setting fire to the Iranian flag. Protests flared last week after troops loyal to al-Maliki, a Shiite, detained bodyguards of his finance minister, a Sunni. Demonstrations were also held in the northern city of Mosul and in Samarra. Protesters in the city of Ramadi in Anbar province raised pictures of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan, who has lined up against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has sparred with al-Maliki. A small anti-Erdoğan protest was also held in the holy city of Najaf.

Responding to criticisms al-Maliki said the actions of protesters who have cut a main highway with demonstrations against him are “not acceptable,” while also calling for dialogue.


Compiled from Reuters and AFP stories by the Daily News staff.