Muqtada Sadr threatens US, UK embassies in Baghdad, reassuring other diplomats
Supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr during a demonstration in Baghdad. AP file photo
By Rudaw 6 hours ago
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr reassured all diplomatic missions in Baghdad of their safety, describing them as guests, warning the American and British embassies meanwhile of any interference in Iraqi affairs.
“I’m compelled here to send them all a message of reassurance and peace,” said Sadr in an official statement on Tuesday. “We are a nation who never attacks its guests.”
Sadr who led a one-million-man demonstration in Baghdad’s central square last week, said in his statement that foreign diplomats will remain safe “if people decided to enter the Green Zone,”
He revealed that he has warned the US and British embassies in advance of any interference.
“But the embassies of the occupiers, by which I mean the US and Britain, I delivered a message to them in my last speech that they must stay silent or get out of that zone,” read Sadr’s statement. “And in case of any military, intelligence or media interference they will be counted among the corrupt and the choice is theirs not ours,”
The radical cleric called on his followers to protect all embassies, “except the occupiers,”
“Wait for another decision once we have seen whether they will choose silence or interfere negatively then convey to the world the picture as it is,” he said. “I do not tolerate an attack on them because it is an ugly and uncivilized act.”
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr reassured all diplomatic missions in Baghdad of their safety, describing them as guests, warning the American and British embassies meanwhile of any interference in Iraqi affairs.
“I’m compelled here to send them all a message of reassurance and peace,” said Sadr in an official statement on Tuesday. “We are a nation who never attacks its guests.”
Sadr who led a one-million-man demonstration in Baghdad’s central square last week, said in his statement that foreign diplomats will remain safe “if people decided to enter the Green Zone,”
He revealed that he has warned the US and British embassies in advance of any interference.
“But the embassies of the occupiers, by which I mean the US and Britain, I delivered a message to them in my last speech that they must stay silent or get out of that zone,” read Sadr’s statement. “And in case of any military, intelligence or media interference they will be counted among the corrupt and the choice is theirs not ours,”
The radical cleric called on his followers to protect all embassies, “except the occupiers,”
“Wait for another decision once we have seen whether they will choose silence or interfere negatively then convey to the world the picture as it is,” he said. “I do not tolerate an attack on them because it is an ugly and uncivilized act.”
