Thousands Rally In Iraq Against Bahrain Crackdown

Demonstration to protest against the crackdown in Bahrain

Reports say thousands of people rallied today across Iraq to denounce a crackdown on Shi'ite-led demonstrators in Bahrain.

Protests were reported in Baghdad's Shi'ite neighborhood of Sadr City and in cities and towns in the predominantly Sunni Diyala province.

Several hundred protesters also were gathering at Baghdad's Tahrir Square for protests after weekly Friday Prayers.

The rallies were called by radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

In a show of solidarity with the protesters, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani suspended teachings at religious schools across Iraq.

compiled from agency reports