The protests were planned, before Mr Gates comments - on Friday during a visit to troops in the northern Iraq made - although his statements passion can have powered some of the day. The protesters were sent until by comments from the Mr Sadr, who is building his religious studies in the Iran but a message, that the threatening crowd, again his militia, the Mahdi Army, if not in this year, the American military left whipped cream.
"The first, which, that we will do that escalate military resistance activity and reactivate the Mahdi Army in a new statement which will be published later", said Mr Sadr representative, Salah al-Obaidi, the lot. "Secondly, escalate the peaceful and public resistance by sit-ins."
A demonstration against the American invasion is every April 9, the anniversary of the fall of Baghdad in 2003 and the date as Iraqis, with the help of the American Marines, below a statue of the dictator Saddam Hussein in rural drawn square in Baghdad.
Posters that were distributed to the masses, "down with America" and some people burned American flags and chanted slogans like "out!" Get out of here! "America the great Devil!" Others spoke of their "religious duty", "the occupier to distribute".
But the event - which the Shiite underclass loyal to Mr Sadr - an annual rite because it came here and in Washington about whether that be American troops as planned by the end of the year left in the middle of the debate, or are you on some capacity more political importance this year was. Established the departure by a security agreement that binds the two countries.
"We want them out of the country," said Sheikh Ahmed al-Hasnawi, one of the organizers of the event. "It is the last year for them."
Ali Husain, a high school student, said: "We came from the South Iraq yesterday evening at the invitation of Moktada al-Sadr." "We are the occupiers expel."
Found similar protests, although much smaller numbers, drawing in Sunni districts. Sung on Friday after prayers demonstrators in Adhamiya, a Sunni stronghold in Baghdad, "Holiday, vacation, her home!" And a few hundred people demonstrated Saturday against the Americans in Ramadi, Anbar province dominated by Sunnis
Under the terms of the agreement security questions, the United States to stay should the Iraqi Government. But such a request Mr Sadr would influence politically complicated for Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
Mr Sadr, Mahdi Army twice fought pitched battles with us troops in Sadr City, the huge Shiite slum in Baghdad in the year 2008 and in the Holy City of Najaf in 2004. But he has since laid down his arms and joined the political process. In the last year's election candidates loyal won almost 40 seats in the Parliament to him, and Mr. Maliki largely owes his second term as Prime Minister Mr Sadr support.
Members of Parliament from Mr. Sadr party support a return to armed uprising, if their demands for the Americans are leaving not met.
"Military resistance is the motto of the sadrist movement against the occupation, which was adopted after 2003," said Rafi Abed al-Jabar, sadrist MP, in an interview. "The occupiers must be received on the day the agreement from Iraq."
Mr. Sadr's complete galvanizing ability, his followers, the streets - on vivid display Saturday, part is his power over Mr. Maliki, which has confronted anti-Government protests in Tunisia and Egypt city recently. But the demonstrations have not led to a powerful national movement, especially, because Loyalists, Mr Sadr, who has said that the Government is removed at the time, the country's requirements, have stayed. If Mr Sadr changed his mind and Sadr supporters began to protest against the Government it would be a serious challenge Mr. Maliki authority.
Even Saturday, were some protesters sing, "Liar Liar, Nuri al-Maliki."
President Obama, which promoted his outspoken opposition to the war in the Iraq was followed by national, has said publicly that all troops are to leave at the end of the year, but Mr Gates comments on Friday amounted to a rare public recognition of this, what many officials privately say:, that it much behind-the-scenes advice on a continued presence of US forces after this year.
Officials privately say that part of the top echelon of the Iraqi Government believes that the country needs more American help in the development of its military forces, especially in air defence and limits to protect.
On Friday, the possibility of Mr Gates mentioned troops in, what is he a role of "advise-and assist" to keep.
Although the military leaves on time, the American diplomatic presence is placed already largest Embassy in the world in the United States increased. Americans are, are with a large contingent of the private contractor, expected to be on many of the features that now responsible for the military. These include tanks and other facilities that it has purchased and training the Iraqi police use training the Iraqi army.
But in some places, especially in the northern city of Kirkuk, Arabs and Kurds controversial, fear that the lack of American troops could lead to violence is widespread.
"This area is a civil war if US forces leave," said convictions al-Dainni, Member of Parliament, Iraqiya, a coalition led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
Omar al-Jawoshy and an Iraqi employee of the New York Times contributed reporting from Baghdad.
