KARBALA / Aswat al-Iraq: Hundreds of Sadrists staged on Thursday a massive protest in the city of Karbala against statements made by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, which they considered as an offense against Muqtada al-Sadr.
"The Sadrists raised Iraqi flags and Shiite top clerics and chanted slogans against al-Maliki," Iman al-Moussawi, a lawmaker from al-Ahrar bloc, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki undermined the statements issued by the head of the Sadrist Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, concerning the arming of the Iraqi army.
Maliki stressed that Sadr’s accusations should be considered invalid until they are legally proven.
On his official website and in response to questions from journalists, Maliki said that Sadr’s statements have become trite and are no longer important as they are contradictory, and his words do not match his actions.
When asked the question: “Muqtada al-Sadr issued a statement last week regarding the Iraqi army, with some serious accusations.
Sadr claimed that Iraq is buying arms for itself and not for another country.
What is your response to that?” The prime minister said that those who are hurling accusations ought to legally prove their claims; otherwise they will be prosecuted for slander.

SH (TS)