Thousands of Iraqis call for end to violence

By Maureen Fan
Knight Ridder Newspapers

	JOE RAEDLE / GETTY IMAGES Iraqis stand on top of columns during an anti-terrorism rally yesterday in Baghdad, Iraq. Thousands of people attended, calling for terrorist activities to stop in the biggest demonstration against violence to date.
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The protesters snarled traffic by filling Fateh Square near the National Theater and Fardos Square in front of the Palestine Hotel. Chanting "No, no terrorism" and "Yes, yes Islam," they carried photographs of religious leaders and unfurled banners that read "The Iraqis Should Not Forget Palestine."

Coalition officials have said that despite pockets of resistance, most Iraqis support the presence of American troops and oppose the resistance. By strengthening Iraqi security forces and announcing a plan to turn over sovereignty to Iraqis by next summer, the United States hopes to stem some of the anger and frustration many Iraqis have voiced.

Protest organizers, including Brig. Gen. Tawfik al Yassiri, a member of the Iraqi Reconstruction and Development Council, which the Pentagon established in February, had invited political parties, religious groups, schools and unions to participate.

"We didn't expect this big a crowd to respond," said al Yassiri, who's also secretary-general of the Iraqi National Coalition, an exile group. "It was hard to organize all these groups who filled the streets and the sidewalks."

Marchers cited a number of reasons for demonstrating.

"There are so many jobless people. If foreign companies were to come here, there would be more jobs, but they will not come if they are afraid of terrorism, so we should protect these companies. We want to live," said Kareem Abed Kareen, 52, who's unemployed.

"All these shortages — electricity, propane for cooking, benzene (gasoline), oil for heating — and the high prices for all of these things, are connected to terrorism," said Amar Anwar, a 50-year-old hospital security guard who complained about sabotage. "Also, if you have no way to make a living, you will protest in another way, by causing trouble and making explosions."

But not everyone was feeling peaceful. "What did Saddam do for us? He slaughtered us all. What did the Americans do for us? They slaughtered us all," said an angry woman in a head-to-toe black abaya.

Abbass Hamid, 24, an off-duty taxi driver, said "I hope, if God is willing, the government will listen to us. I'm depending on them to make life better for us."

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