The prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, has tried various methods to keep them at bay. “Saddamist elements”, he said, would infiltrate the crowds, and al-Qaeda would then launch attacks on them. Shia clerics friendly to the government told their followers to stay away. Security officials issued warnings that there would be bombs. For days before the rallies, soldiers patrolled the towns. On the day itself, a curfew was imposed and all vehicles, even bicycles, were banned from the streets.

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