Sadr Calls for Anti-US March

The march would take place in major centers across the country on Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Iraq is tense after more than a week of clashes between security forces, backed by US troops, and Sadr's Mahdi Army.

A statement from Sadr's office in the central holy city of Najaf said all Iraqis, "Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds and Arabs, must express their rejection and raise their voice against the tyrant occupier" in protests on April 9.

It urged the participation of "millions" of Iraqis.

"The time has come to express your rejections and raise your voices loud against the unjust occupier and enemy of nations and humanity, and against the horrible massacres committed by the occupier against our honorable people," the statement said.

The government said it would not attempt to block the demonstration, provided it was not violent. Al-Alam