The lines between Sadr and the Iraqi government are now clearly marked, writes Nermeen Al-Mufti Baghdad marked the fifth anniversary of the onset of occupation with gloom, curfew and mortar fire. Turbulent events in Basra and the south were far from reassuring. Reports spoke of bloody clashes between government forces and the Mahdi Army of Moqtada Al-Sadr, while government officials threatened tougher actions against "bandits and outlaws". Both Sadr City in northern Baghdad and Al-Shoala in western Baghdad saw intermittent clashes despite a curfew imposed by authorities. The relative peace Baghdad had enjoyed for nearly a year was evaporating. Al-Sadr, now living in the Iranian city of Qom, called on his followers to stage a million-man march in Baghdad to protest against the occupation. Meanwhile, supporters of the occupation called for a demonstration of "joy" to mark the occasion. Up to 200 may have been killed in Sadr City over the past few days, according to eyewitnesses. On 8 April, one day before the anniversary, the official spokesman for the Baghdad "Imposing Law" operations, Qassem Ata, urged participants in the celebratory march staged on "the anniversary of the downfall of the regime" to keep the event orderly and leave their guns at home. He added that Iraqi security forces would deploy along the path of the march to protect the participants, promising that the government would stamp out "the terrorists, bandits and outlaws who seek to undermine the safety of citizens". Earlier, official spokesman for Al-Sadr, Salah Al-Obeidi, called on all Iraqis to participate in a peaceful demonstration to mark the US occupation of Iraq. "We call on Iraqis from all walks of life to march in Baghdad on Wednesday, and we call on the Iraqi government to provide the demonstrators with protection," he said at a press conference. Al-Obeidi accused Al-Sadr's opponents of "creating obstacles to prevent the demonstration from taking place". Government forces, meanwhile, closed access roads to Baghdad and arrested travellers coming from the southern and central governorates. The government then declared 9 April a holiday and imposed a curfew on Baghdad. Consequently, Al-Sadr issued a statement calling off the demonstration to avoid bloodshed. His opponents, he claimed, were planning to "block the roads and implant spies". Al-Sadr threatened to reverse the ceasefire orders he recently gave to the Mahdi Army. On 9 April, security was tightened around Sadr City and Al-Shoala. Access roads to Al-Khazimiya, another stronghold for Al-Sadr in western Baghdad, were cut off. Police told Al-Khazimiya inhabitants to hand over their weapons or risk having their homes searched. On the same day, several mortar shells fell on the Green Zone but there have been no reports of casualties. Two American soldiers were killed in rocket attacks on the Green Zone a few days ago. Earlier, an employee of the US Embassy was killed and others wounded also by mortar fire. Explosions were heard in Sadr City and surrounding areas amid reports of clashes between government forces and the Mahdi Army. Salman Al-Freiji of the Sadr current said that three million people were besieged in Sadr City, unable to travel or buy food. He warned that the current ceasefire might be called off. "We follow the orders of Moqtada Al-Sadr, but if the attacks against the Iraqis continue, the ceasefire will have to end." Journalist Iyad Al-Kaabi, who lives in Sadr City, said that dozens were killed or wounded by US sniper fire and rockets launched from helicopters. He added that seven civilians were killed and 24 others wounded while attending a funeral wake in Sadr City. For its part, the US army claimed to have killed 13 gunmen on Wednesday 9 April, four of them killed while attacking a security post in Sadr City. However, Iraqi police and hospital officials said that the four were civilians and two of them were brothers aged seven and nine. Meanwhile, Iraqi police reported that two Iraqis were killed and 10 others wounded when US helicopters fired at a gas cylinder depot in Sadr City. Other areas of Baghdad were relatively calm 9 April due to the curfew. Still, roadside bombs went off in the industrial area of Sheikh Omar in central Baghdad and in the neighbourhood of Baghdad Al-Jadida. No casualties have been reported. Prices of foodstuffs skyrocketed after a fire gutted hundreds of stores at Suq Jumeila, Baghdad's largest wholesale market. Ahmed Hussein, who lost his merchandise in the blaze, said that the fire was set off by mortar shells. As Sadr City hospitals ran out of medicine and room for more casualties, the Baghdad Operations Command decided to relax its hold. It lifted the ban on vehicle travel that had been enforced in Sadr City for nearly two weeks. Cars are currently allowed to access Sadr City, though not all roads are open until now. Ata said that the Iraqi security forces are present in Sadr City to protect citizens against "criminal acts" and fire only in self-defence. He added that competent officials are supervising the supply of health and food services in both Sadr City and Shoala. "We have ministry representatives working in the operations room and coordinating the supply of services," he said.
