Tens of thousands of Iraqis attended a mass prayer in a Baghdad suburb on Friday called for by an influential Shiite cleric, sparking fears of instability amid a deepening political crisis that has followed the country's national elections.
Followers of Moqtada al-Sadr arrived in the capital from across the country, filling up Sadr City's al-Falah Street – the main thoroughfare that cuts across the populist figure's key bastion of support. Worshippers carried Iraqi flags and wore white shrouds, typically donned by his supporters.
Ahmad Kadhim, 17, was among the worshippers. He said he was disappointed al-Sadr himself did not appear at the service. "I would have been happy just to see him, but this wish did not come true," he said. "I support them if they want to stand up for reform," he wrote. Many considered that a veiled threat to his rivals.
The surprise move shocked his opponents and his supporters alike, sparking fears of more unrest and street protests if al-Maliki forged ahead with government formation plans that excluded al-Sadr.
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