Iraqi crackdown angers cleric's supporters

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

AMARA, Iraq (Reuters) - Supporters of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr accused Iraqi security forces on Friday of heavy-handed action in a crackdown in the southern city of Amara, calling it a "clear provocation."

Adnan al-Selawi, head of the Sadr movement's office in Amara, 300 km (185 miles) southeast of Baghdad, said the Shi'ite cleric's supporters had hoped the security sweep in the city, which began on Thursday, would be professional.

"But unfortunately we found many breaches and violations," he told Reuters, accusing security forces of insulting and harassing civilians, random shooting and beating people.

The crackdown by the Iraqi army and police, backed by U.S. forces, is the latest phase in Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's drive to impose law and order throughout Iraq.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080620/wl_nm/iraq_dc;_