Baghdad (CNN) -- Thousands of mourners turned out in Falluja Saturday, hours after a powerful Sunni sheikh called on Iraq's Shiite prime minister to hand over soldiers responsible for killing anti-government protesters in Anbar province or face "losses among their ranks." The warning came as reports emerged that four soldiers were killed and four were abducted after security forces fired on a Sunni anti-government protest in Falluja, raising fears of retaliations that could ignite sectarian violence. Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha, who is credited with rallying Sunni tribal leaders to turn on al Qaeda in Iraq, gave Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government seven days to hand over to Anbar's criminal court those involved in the shootings.
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Four Iraqi soldiers have been killed in clashes in Falluja, officials say
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Four soldiers also have been abducted, police officials say
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Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha is demanding the prime minister hand over the soldiers involved
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At least seven people were killed and 47 wounded in shootings during protests Friday
Nuri al-Maliki
"@placeholder should be tried for crimes he has committed against Iraqi people.
Iraq
Iraq
Iraqi
"Al-Maliki should be tried for crimes he has committed against @placeholder people.
Ahmed Abu Risha
Ahmed Abu Risha
@placeholder's demand that troops withdraw from Falluja was backed by a number of religious leaders in the city.
Nuri al-Maliki
@placeholder on Friday said the violence in Falluja doesn't surprise his administration.
Shiite
Sunnis make up about 20% of Iraq's estimated population of more than 27 million, whereas about 60% to 65% are @placeholder.
Sunni
Sunni
Sunni
The gulf was widened in 2005 when @placeholder boycotted the country's election, opening the way to a heavily dominated Shiite government.
Shiite
The gulf was widened in 2005 when Sunnis boycotted the country's election, opening the way to a heavily dominated @placeholder government.