Confusion, violence in Iraq as al-Sadr pulls support for protests | News | Al Jazeera
On a recent morning, at the foot of a towering building known as the Turkish restaurant in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, a man dressed in black rallied a small audience, calling for an end to the United States' presence in Iraq."Blue caps against American interference," the crowd clamoured, wielding batons and metal rods underneath a clear, blue sky.The men - nicknamed the blue caps after their signature headgear - are die-hard supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr, a prominent Iraqi Shia leader known for his mercurial temper and large, cult-like following which includes a well-armed militia."Blue, because it's the colour of peace," explained 38-year-old Nateq Al Gerawi pointing to a fellow cap-wearing Sadrist.
