BAGHDAD - Tens of thousands of followers of a rebel Shiite cleric have marched in Baghdad to denounce the US presence in Iraq and demand a speedy trial of Saddam Hussein on the second anniversary of his overthrow.

Chanting "No, no to the occupiers", men loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr streamed from the poor Shi’ite district of Sadr City to Firdos Square in central Baghdad on Saturday where Saddam’s statue was torn down two years ago, in a peaceful show of strength.

The square and side streets were quickly packed with crowds waving Iraqi flags and brandishing effigies of Saddam, Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush.

"No America! No Saddam! Yes to Islam!" many chanted. One group of demonstrators burned an American flag.

"We want a stable Iraq and this will only happen through independence," said a statement from Sadr’s office read out at the rally. "There will be no security and stability unless the occupiers leave ... The occupiers must leave my country."

Iraqi security forces shut down central Baghdad ahead of the march and were keeping a tight watch. US forces, around 135,000 of whom remain in Iraq, were out of sight. Most protesters were searched for weapons before reaching the square.

"I came from Sadr City to demand a timetable for the withdrawal of the occupation," said Abbas, a young, bearded protester sitting on the grass in the square. "Every Iraqi has a right to demand his freedom. The Americans wanted time and we gave them time, now we want to rule ourselves."

Followers of Sadr from the southern Shi’ite cities of Basra, Amara and Nassiriya travelled hundreds of miles to join the protest, showing the appeal the young cleric, who has led two uprisings against US-led forces, can command.

By early evening, most protesters had dispersed. There were no reports of violence.

MASS TURNOUT

The protest was the largest since the January 30 election and the first since a new government began forming.

US forces last year pledged to arrest Sadr, a low-ranking cleric in his mid-30s, and destroy his Mehdi Army militia. But as part of a peace deal to end his uprising in August, he was not detained and he pledged to renounce violence.

Firdos Square has become a central rallying place for Iraqis since Saddam’s overthrow two years ago. US forces last year shut down the square, sealing it off with razor wire, to prevent people massing on the first anniversary.