MUQTADA AL-SADER

Our government should be led by religious men …. Religion is with politics and politics is with religion. They are as one.

The main reason the Americans have come to Iraq is to put down the Shiite people—to prevent us from setting up a Shiite religious government.

Saddam is a war criminal and there are no two people who can argue over this.

I seek the spread of freedom and democracy in the way that satisfies God. Americans have planned and paved the ways for a long time, but it is God who is the real planner -- and the proof of this is the fall of the American twin towers ... a miracle from God.

Terrorize your enemy!

I renew my call for the occupier [the United States] to leave our land. The departure of the occupier will mean stability for Iraq, victory for Islam and peace and defeat for terrorism and infidels.

I have a red line against the Americans.

Go forth from our holy land and go back to your families who are waiting for you impatiently, that you and we, as well, lead a peaceful life together.

The U.S. will ignore the opinion of the Iraqi people and it will compose the new government according to its own desires.

I beg you not to resort to demonstrations, for they have become nothing but burned paper.

Out of my desire to complete Iraq's independence and to finish the withdrawal of the occupation forces from our holy lands, I am obliged to halt military operations of the honest Iraqi resistance until the withdrawal of the occupation forces is complete.

So, if I were arrested or if I were killed, then after me the issues that American fears about me wouldn't exist anymore - and I couldn't tell you what those issues are

If it does not serve the Iraqi people, there are only political means that must be followed to reform the government - a new government that we must give a chance to prove that it is there to serve the people.

Our main goal as Iraqi people is to drive the occupation out in any way.

America has shown its evil intentions, and the proud Iraqi people cannot accept it. They must defend their rights by any means they see fit.

Whatever struggle happened between brothers, let us forget about it and turn the page forever and live united.

If the government fails to listen to your demands, then you will decide what is best for you.

I don't want the chair of the government because it will be controlled by the U.S. and I don't want to be controlled by the U.S.

I will deal with the politicians in a political way and with the nonpoliticians in a nonpolitical way.

Help me by whatever you are pleased to do in your provinces.

I wish to be a martyr, and I don't fear death.

If responsibility is not in the hands of the Iraqi government, then I consider the responsibility for this event lies with the occupation forces which should either leave immediately or according to a timetable.

We have not forgotten the occupier. We remain a resistance.

We don't kill Iraqis - our hands do not kill Iraqis. But we target only the occupier with all the means of resistance.

For us, holding on to religious rules, and following them, and refraining from what's forbidden, and being diligent with our duties, what do we call that? That's what we call freedom.