IRAQ: UPRISING

BNN: Iraq's Sadr urges Kuwaitis to expel U.S. forces-TV
BAGHDAD (Reuters/BGNES)? Militant Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr urged Kuwaitis to put pressure on their government to expel U.S. and other foreign forces based in the country, the Arabic Al Jazeera television said on Wednesday.

"I call on our neighbour Kuwait to ask that American and other bases be removed so that this state may stand hand in hand with us to remove the big nightmare and great Satan from Iraq, whose people are suffering from the occupation," Sadr said in a statement, a copy of which was shown by the satellite channel.

"You cannot keep silent about these crimes and you must help your brothers by removing terrorism from your land," said the statement written in Arabic.

Nasdaq: Cleric Al-Sadr Warns Iraq Could Become A Vietnam For US


Anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr warned Wednesday Iraq will become another Vietnam-like conflict for the U.S. unless it transfers power to "honest Iraqis."

The cleric - whose militia followers have battled coalition and Iraqi security forces across the country for days - accused members of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council of being "collaborators" and said "they do not represent the Iraqi people."

"I call upon the American people to stand beside their brethren, the Iraqi people, who are suffering an injustice by your rulers and the occupying army, to help them in the transfer of power to honest Iraqis," al-Sadr said in a statement issued by his office in the southern city of Najaf. "Otherwise, Iraq will be another Vietnam for America and the occupiers."