US forces silence As-Sadr’s paper; protests erupt

By: Hamoud Kufi

BAGHDAD, Iraq: Thousands of demonstrators staged a peaceful protest against the coalition provisional authority (CPA) order to close a newspaper of Moqtada As-Sadr, decrying what they called a crackdown on freedom of expression.

The protestors were chanting anti-US slogans and some burned an American flag. Iraqi police were nowhere to be seen, and US troops looked on from a distance.

The US-led coalition on Sunday shut down the al-Hawza al-Natiqa daily in Baghdad saying its articles were increasing the threat of violence against occupation forces.

Sheik Abdel-Hadi Darraja, a representative of As-Sadr, said in front of the one-storey house that dozens of US soldiers arrived at the newspaper offices Sunday morning and closed its doors with chains and locks.

A coalition letter in Arabic, signed by top US overseer Paul Bremer and handed to employees at the newspaper, said the paper's articles “form a serious threat of violence against coalition forces and Iraqi citizens who co-operate with coalition authorities in rebuilding Iraq.” The paper will close for 60 days, the statement said.

A coalition spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said any violation of the closure could lead to the imprisonment of newspaper employees for up to one year and a fine of up to $1,000 US.

“What is happening now is what used to happen during the days of Saddam. No freedom of opinion. It is like the days of the Baath,” said Hussam Abdel-Kadhim, 25, a vendor who took part in the demonstration.

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