Iraqis stage mass anti-US rally

Supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr have staged a mass demonstration in Baghdad in protest against plans to extend the US mandate in Iraq.

An estimated 50,000 protesters chanted slogans such as "Get out occupier!".

Al-Sadr said that anybody who claims the agreement will end "the occupation of our land," or "tells you that it gives Iraqi sovereignty is a liar".

He also said that the deal "will stigmatise Iraq and its government for years to come".

The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says Moqtada Sadr's militant opposition to the US presence has strong grassroots support among many Shias (note: these are not the Shias Iraqi Mojo says are happy about the occupation, these are...other Shias)- and this was a physical manifestation of that opposition.

At least one other big Shia faction is believed to have reservations about the agreement, and some Sunnis have also voiced dissent.

I cut and pasted this from BBC and Al jazeera articles.