Supporters of the Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr demonstrated againstthe continued presence of U.S. forces at a march in the Baghdaddistrict of Sadr City. Protesters burned an American flag as a senioraide (Sheikh Haidar al-Jabari) to the cleric called for a larger rallyon April 9th.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told VOA (Kurdish Service) thatalthough there have been significant security gains in Iraq, there arestill problems that threaten the country's stability. He said he hopesthe planned withdrawal of U.S. troops will not reverse the recentprogress.
Violence has fallen in the past year, but the anniversary was alsomarked by several deadly attacks, including a suicide bombing nearFallujah that killed a police officer.
Security officials said the suicide bomber wounded several other peoplein an attack aimed at a local tribal leader who has worked with U.S.forces. The targeted official was reported to be unharmed.
U.S. President Barack Obama has called for American combat troops towithdraw from Iraq by August 2010, with 35,000 to 50,000 remaininguntil the end of 2011 for support and training.
Iraqi politicians held no official ceremony as the war in the country entered its seventh year.
There were small protests against the war in Washington and New York Thursday on the eve of the anniversary.
About 140,000 U.S. troops are currently deployed in Iraq. Late lastyear, a U.S. congressional report estimated that there were also atleast 190,000 private contractors working on U.S.-funded projects inthe country.
In the six years since U.S.-led coalition forces invaded Iraq, the Website "Iraq body Count" says more than 91,121 Iraqi civilians have beenkilled. At least 4,258 U.S. troops have been killed, along with 307soldiers from other coalition countries.
Some two million Iraqis are believed to have fled the country to escape the violence.