Anti-Iraq abuse protests demand US apologize

By: Hamoud Kufi/ Abdullah

BAGHDAD/ISTANBUL: Protests erupted across the world against the US savagery committed against Iraqi prisoners in American-run jails in Iraq as two more Iraq prison killings made public on Wednesday.

Chanting 'democracy doesn't mean killing innocent people' and demanding that the United States apologize for humiliating Iraqi prisoners and release jailed relatives, thousands of Iraqis marched on Wednesday outside the walls of the military jail in Iraq where US soldiers photographed themselves abusing Iraqi prisoners.

Relatives of the nearly 4,000 Abu Gharib prisoners who are among about 10,000 Iraqis held by occupying troops demanded they be set free immediately.

“These acts demand revenge and we hold you completely responsible,” said a representative of the Association of Muslim Clerics.

The protestors carried banners that read: “Abu Gharib, witness of American savagery,” “US Army go home. Your families are waiting for you -- this country is for Iraqis” and “Free women or we will launch jihad.”

Meanwhile, the commander of the prison system in the country apologized for the abuse. “I would like to personally apologize to the people of Iraq for a small number of leaders and soldiers,” Major General Geoffrey Miller told reporters touring the facility near Baghdad.

US President Bush denounced the abuse during two television interviews with Arab networks Wednesday but stopped short of apologizing.

In Istanbul, hooded Turkish protestors holding pictures of Iraqi detainees one of that reads 'Look at the liberator' and anti US posters marched through a busiest shopping district during a demonstration Wednesday. The protest condemned the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US and British soldiers in Iraq.

END