US troops confront protesters at Baghdad mosque

More than 2,000 Shi'ite protesters confronted hundreds of US troops at a Baghdadmosque today , demanding the release of a cleric…

More than 2,000 Shi'ite protesters confronted hundreds of US troops at a Baghdadmosque today , demanding the release of a cleric they said was arrested by the Americans.

US soldiers in riot gear surrounded the protesters this evening and told them to leave the area. But mostAmerican troops later withdrew and hundreds of Shi'ites were preparing to spend the night at the mosque in southern Baghdad.

Earlier, troops fired in the air and swooped low over the area in helicopters in an effort to make the Shi'ites leave. They arrested more than 20 protesters but almost all were later released. A major highway in Baghdad was blocked by the protest.

At least one Iraqi was injured during the confrontations, hit by a US vehicle.

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Mr Ameed Khalid Khateeb, his face severely bruised, said he was dragged away from the protest and beaten by American soldiers. "They hit me across the face and back with rifle butts. When we tried to pray they refused to let us," he said.

There was no immediate comment from the US military.

Protesters had gathered in the morning at the Ali al-Bayaa mosque in Baghdad's southwestern Bayaa district, waving banners saying "America = Saddam" and "What is this freedom?".

They said a local cleric, identified as Sheikh Muayad Khazraji, was arrested by the American military. "The Americans asked me to set up a meeting for them with the sheikh at the mosque," said Saadi Reda, a local official.