Baghdad: Thousands of Iraqi protesters staged a rally on Friday in Baghdad, demanding that American troops leave the country. Though their numbers fell short of the “Million Man” March called for by an influential Shiite Cleric.

On Friday morning large crowds gathered on the Muslim lay of prayers as loud speakers shouting “No, No America” at a Central Square in Baghdad. A child showed a poster reading “Death to America. Death to Israel”. The rally had failed to reach the critical numbers called for by Radical Cleric Muqtada Al- Sadar on Friday afternoon.

Officials and experts said that the rally was the Celric’s attempt to capitalize on brewing anti-America feeling and show he had the upper hand on the Iraqi street as negotiations among political elites over who should be the next Prime Minister Stumble on. Roads and bridges leading to the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq’s Government and home to several foreign embassies including the US Embassy were blocked off by concrete barriers. Iraqi security forces stood guard, blocking access to the gates to the Zone.

The protesters, the mostly Shiites hailing from the capital but also Iraq’s Southern Provinces walked on foot to an Assembly point in Bhagdad’s Jadriya neighbourhood, the protesters waving Iraqi flags and wearing symbolic white shrouds.