BAGHDAD , Iraq ( CNN ) -- The ongoing presence of U.S. troops in Iraq `` shows that the ( Iraqi ) government and the occupation are not serious about the withdrawal , '' a key Shiite cleric in the country said Wednesday . A crowd gathers Tuesday after a deadly bombing in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk . Muqtada al-Sadr made the statement on his Web site a day after U.S. forces withdrew from Iraqi cities and towns in accordance with the security agreement between the United States and Iraq . About 131,000 American troops remain in the country , on bases and in outposts outside of population centers . `` The withdrawal should include all the occupation forces : army , intelligence , militias , and security companies and others . Otherwise , the withdrawal will be uncompleted and useless , '' al-Sadr said . `` We want a withdrawal and stopping the interference with Iraqi political , social and economic affairs , '' the statement said . Al-Sadr commands the loyalty of the Mehdi Army , one of the largest independent militias in the country . His agreement to a cease-fire with the government and its allies is considered a key factor in reducing the level of violence in the country . But he seemed to suggest Wednesday that Iraqis had the right to attack foreign forces in the country -- if not Iraqi security forces . `` If the occupation forces violate this claimed withdrawal , even with a government cover , then the people of Iraq will have all the right to express their opinion in a peaceful way , and the right to self-defense on condition of not harming the Iraqi people and the security forces , '' he said . Under an agreement signed in the waning days of the Bush administration , all U.S. forces will be out of Iraq by the end of 2011 . Most will be gone by August 2010 under the withdrawal plan laid out by President Barack Obama , Bush 's successor . The U.S. troops who remain are now tasked with supporting Iraqi troops and police , and must seek Iraqi permission to launch operations in the cities . the top U.S. general in the country said Tuesday that much of the country was safe . `` There is not widespread violence in Iraq , '' Gen. Ray Odierno told reporters in a video conference from Baghdad . `` There 's still gon na be bumps in the road . There 's still gon na be violence here , '' he added . Meanwhile , the death toll from a huge blast in northern Iraq rose to 35 , local security officials said Wednesday . The car bombing took place in a busy commercial district in a predominantly Kurdish area of Kirkuk early Tuesday evening when the neighborhood was busy , security sources said . About 17 shops and houses were destroyed and 95 people were wounded , a police official in the Iraqi city added . Kirkuk is about 378 kilometers ( 235 miles ) north of the capital , Baghdad . CNN 's Yousif Bassil and Jomana Karadsheh in Baghdad contributed to this report .
About 131,000 American troops remain in the country . Muqtada al-Sadr : Withdrawal should include all the occupation forces . Al-Sadr commands the loyalty of the Mehdi Army , an independent militia . U.S. must now seek Iraqi permission to launch operations in the cities .