Iraq's rebel cleric defies Bush

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=506583§ion=news

KUFA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has defied U.S. troops closing in on his militia army, vowing in a sermon to drive out the Americans as clashes in a nearby city left eight Iraqis dead.

"We won't allow you to control us. You will be forced out sooner or later," the young firebrand said on Friday in front of thousands of chanting supporters at the heavily guarded Kufa mosque just outside the holy city of Najaf, south of Baghdad.

"You get your soldiers to beat prisoners with their guns. What kind of justice is that? What kind of humanity?" he declared, as a political storm built in Washington over abuse of Iraqis in U.S.-run jails in Iraq.

U.S. tanks swept in to key positions on Thursday in the boldest move yet to quell Sadr's month-long insurgency against U.S. occupation.

...more...