Thousands of people have protested in Baghdad against a proposed deal to allow US troops to remain in Iraq once their UN mandate expires.>/b>
The demonstration was called by the Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, who has strongly opposed any deal with the US.
Security was tight around the area, but the organisers insist the protest in the capital will remain peaceful.
The Status of Forces Agreement has been passed by the Iraqi cabinet, but still needs parliamentary approval.
A failure to ratify the agreement or renew the UN mandate might mean US military operations would have to be suspended. The UN mandate for the US-led coalition expires at the end of December.
The Iraqi parliament is expected to vote next week on the proposals, which have also been criticised by other groups.
The demonstration took place in Firdous Square, the scene of the toppling of a statue of Iraq's former leader, Saddam Hussein, five years ago.
Hundreds of Iraqi police searched everyone entering the square and US surveillance drones circled overhead.
Today is the day of Iraqi unity among Arabs, Kurds, all communities of Iraq, to reject the security pact
The BBC's Andrew North, who was at the protest, says people waved Iraqi flags, Shia banners and chanted anti-American slogans, and an effigy of US President George W Bush was attacked by the crowd.
Joint prayers were held with many Sunni Muslims at the demonstration, our correspondent said.
Moqtada Sadr did not attend the demonstration himself but a sermon of his was read out by a representative, Sheik Abdul-Hadi al-Mohammadawi.
"Let the government know that America is and will not be of any use to us because it is the enemy of Islam," he said.
"The government must know that it is the people who help it in the good and the bad times. If it throws the occupier out, all the Iraqi people will stand by it."
A senior aide to Moqtada Sadr said people were "coming out to prove the security pact is worthless".
"Today is the day of Iraqi unity among Arabs, Kurds, all communities of Iraq, to reject the security pact," said Hazim al-Araji.
Mr Araji said the protest would "express rejection of the pact and the occupation," and that the crowds would remain "100%" peaceful.
Under the forces agreement, US troops will withdraw from the streets of Iraqi towns and cities next year, with all 150,000 having left Iraq by the end of 2011.
The UN mandate for the US-led coalition expires at the end of 2008
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said the deal is "a solid prelude to the restoration of Iraq's full sovereignty in three years' time" and has insisted that it has no hidden clauses.
Our correspondent says there is little chance that Moqtada Sadr's supporters can stop the agreement being passed.
The event is being seen by many as showing the continuing influence of the cleric, and that he is securing his position for when the Americans do eventually leave, our correspondent adds.
About 144,000 of the 152,000 foreign troops deployed in Iraq are US military personnel.
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Comments: 12
Yesterday eve on MSNBC, I feel I heard that 107.000 was the figure of the mercenaries in Iraq. It seems to me a too large figure for me not being wrong ...
Lets get out, we ain't doing a damn thing there. If we don't leave soon, violence against outr troops will erupt.
we didnt currently hold some 80 thousand as prisioners
the 8 million people that did have the money or ability to leave as refugee's to neighboring countires.
not to mention the dead..it ranges from 26 thousand-to 1 million..depending on who you believe..
they too would have protested..
we need to clear out our army and send in engineers that can build water plants..schools so these kids wont be on the street making IED's...give them employment....help re-build not kill....Look Im from a military family..and the only reason my family continues to serve in this mascarade..is the guy next to him...never would anyone in my family in the military ever- and I mean ever..allow his/her buddy to go it alone..its the loyalty to your brothers..they will stay and fight until the last guy is home...and they know this cant be won militarily...its political...and theya re being used as tools and they know it...the war is a lie...and apparently the commander in theif..is the only one that doesnt know it?
as for anyone getting away with fraud, high crimes,war profiteering, abuse of power...no one should get away with it...from the 8 year old next door to the pope of the vacatan...
we are a country of laws...and when they are not applied..they are at risk of being lost...ARREST ROVE NOW..if they did that ..you would see the rats fleeing to make deals....wait n see
As a citizen of this country ..can I not go before a court of Law and demand the George BUsh be impeached? I think I can...but it will hold no water as long as Pelosi is in charge.
What about a coalition of the willing- so to speak - other countries rallying in support of bringing Bush to court - by his violating international laws? Human rights violations?war profiteering? treason? trade laws? fraud? I guess my questio is...if we dont hold him accountable for all these violations and more..our credibility will again be blown...
Pelosi is a wannabe dictator and on the Bush payroll but she can't fight the majority of voters and the voters that have the most sway with her are the ones that elect her to office.
All the public does is sit back and wait for someone else to step in and do their dirty work for them, this is typical America. As long as Americans can get gas to run like mad dogs they are happy.
I was proud to be in London helping pull down the Bush effigy and the two weeks I spent at Cindy Sheehan's camp outside the Bush ranch. Americans are so fat and lazy now its no wonder they go for the gas guzzlers because their fat bodies would not fit through the door of a compact.