* Anti-US cleric: 'U.S. tricks do not deceive us any more'
* U.S. moved ships, planes closer to Libya
By Muhanad Mohammed
BAGHDAD, March 3 (Reuters) - Anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr urged Iraqis on Thursday to protest against any possible U.S. military intervention in Libya, saying the United States installed Gaddafi and now wants to remove him.
Sadr accused Washington and western nations of planting agents in Arab states and supporting dictatorships, then intervening in the name of democracy and claiming to liberate Arabs, citing the overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
"U.S. tricks do not deceive us any more. We were and still are standing against any intervention from the state of evil, America, in countries' affairs," Sadr said in a statement.
"I hope the Arab people, and especially those in Iraq, will show their rejection (for U.S. intervention in Libya) through peaceful protests this coming Friday."
The United States had said it was moving ships and planes closer to Libya. Two U.S. amphibious assault ships entered Egypt's Suez Canal on Wednesday on their way to the Mediterranean.
The repositioning of U.S. ships and aircraft closer to Libya is widely seen as a symbolic show of force since neither the United States nor its NATO allies have shown any appetite for direct military intervention in the turmoil in the oil-producing North African country.
Iraq has seen a wave of protests inspired by uprisings across the Arab world that have so far unseated long-ruling leaders in Egypt and Tunisia. Protests in Libya have become a rebellion against the four-decade rule of Muammar Gaddafi.
Iraqi demonstrators have called for some local politicians to step down and complained about shortages of electricity, jobs and food rations rather than calling for the ouster of a federal government seated just two months ago.
Sadr, who led two uprisings against U.S. forces after the 2003 invasion, cemented his movement's position in Iraq's new coalition government after playing a kingmaker role in putting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki back in power for a second term.
"All people, especially the Libyan people, refuse intervention in their affairs, whether political, military or other kinds of intervention," Sadr said.
The cleric had asked his followers last month to give the new Iraqi government six months to try to address their demands, although he also said he would support peaceful demonstrations.
Progress in Iraq has been sluggish eight years after the U.S.-led invasion and frustration among Iraqis has been growing.
(Writing by Muhanad Mohammed; Editing by Rania El Gamal and Elizabeth Fullerton)
* U.S. moved ships, planes closer to Libya
By Muhanad Mohammed
BAGHDAD, March 3 (Reuters) - Anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr urged Iraqis on Thursday to protest against any possible U.S. military intervention in Libya, saying the United States installed Gaddafi and now wants to remove him.
Sadr accused Washington and western nations of planting agents in Arab states and supporting dictatorships, then intervening in the name of democracy and claiming to liberate Arabs, citing the overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
"U.S. tricks do not deceive us any more. We were and still are standing against any intervention from the state of evil, America, in countries' affairs," Sadr said in a statement.
"I hope the Arab people, and especially those in Iraq, will show their rejection (for U.S. intervention in Libya) through peaceful protests this coming Friday."
The United States had said it was moving ships and planes closer to Libya. Two U.S. amphibious assault ships entered Egypt's Suez Canal on Wednesday on their way to the Mediterranean.
The repositioning of U.S. ships and aircraft closer to Libya is widely seen as a symbolic show of force since neither the United States nor its NATO allies have shown any appetite for direct military intervention in the turmoil in the oil-producing North African country.
Iraq has seen a wave of protests inspired by uprisings across the Arab world that have so far unseated long-ruling leaders in Egypt and Tunisia. Protests in Libya have become a rebellion against the four-decade rule of Muammar Gaddafi.
Iraqi demonstrators have called for some local politicians to step down and complained about shortages of electricity, jobs and food rations rather than calling for the ouster of a federal government seated just two months ago.
Sadr, who led two uprisings against U.S. forces after the 2003 invasion, cemented his movement's position in Iraq's new coalition government after playing a kingmaker role in putting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki back in power for a second term.
"All people, especially the Libyan people, refuse intervention in their affairs, whether political, military or other kinds of intervention," Sadr said.
The cleric had asked his followers last month to give the new Iraqi government six months to try to address their demands, although he also said he would support peaceful demonstrations.
Progress in Iraq has been sluggish eight years after the U.S.-led invasion and frustration among Iraqis has been growing.
(Writing by Muhanad Mohammed; Editing by Rania El Gamal and Elizabeth Fullerton)
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