Baghdad , Iraq ( CNN ) -- Tens of thousands of demonstrators in eastern Baghdad marked the eighth anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein 's regime with a protest Saturday against the American troop presence there . The demonstrators , followers of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr , rallied in Mustansriya Square , where they called all U.S troops to withdraw from Iraq at the end of the year . The protesters carried Iraqi flag and banners , with some chanting `` Baghdad is a free country , America get out ! '' and `` No for Occupation , No for America . '' One banner read `` No , no America , '' while another said , `` Yes , yes for Quran . '' American troops are scheduled to depart from Iraq at year 's end under a bilateral agreement between the Iraqi government and the United States . But if violence increases and instability persists in Iraq , it is possible both countries could agree to keep some U.S. troops in Iraq , which now has about 47,000 American soldiers . The figure is down from a high of 171,000 in 2003 . That prospect of American troops staying in Iraq disturbs many citizens , including the thousands who support al-Sadr , a cleric with grassroots appeal in Iraq 's Shiite cities and neighborhoods . Sheikh Salah al-Obaidi , a cleric who read a statement to demonstrators on behalf of al-Sadr , raised the prospect of American troops staying in Iraq into next year and beyond . `` What if the invading forces decide not to leave our country ? What if they decide to stay ? What if American troops and others decide to stay in our lands ? ... . Will you keep silent ? `` al-Obaidi said , reading al-Sadr 's statement to chants of `` God is great . '' `` If they decide to stay in our country , then we have to do two things : first is to escalate armed resistance and lift the freeze on Mehdi Army , '' al-Obaidi said . He was referring to the August 2007 suspension of the activities of the Mehdi Army , al-Sadr 's militia . U.S. military commanders have cited that move as a major reason for a decline in violence across Iraq , where Al-Sadr 's forces fought American troops during the height of the war . Emotions on the street were fueled by the remarks of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates , who made an unannounced visit this week to Iraq and discussed American troop presence with top officials , including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki . `` My message to them was if there is to be a presence or they still need help , we are open to that possibility . But they have to ask , and time is running out in Washington because we have a lot going on around the world and we 've got to make some decisions , '' Gates said . `` It obviously would be a presence that 's a fraction of the size of the one we have here now but it 's really up to the Iraqis at this point . '' On Friday , street protesters in Baghdad and other provinces also focused on the fall of the Hussein regime and grievances stemming from war , including an opposition to the U.S. troop presence . That was a change of theme in recent weeks when demonstrators in Iraq have rallied over the same bread-and-butter issues that have prompted street protests across the Arab world . People have been upset over corruption , unemployment , the lack of basic services and restrictions on freedom of expression . Protesters in the Sunni neighborhood of Adhamiya called for the release of detainees and compensation for `` the victims of the occupation . '' `` Some of the protesters shouted , 'No to occupation , no to foreign troops , ' '' witnesses said . In Baghdad 's Tahrir Square , nearly 300 protesters carrying banners and Iraqi flags , shouted , `` We will not accept life in an occupied country anymore . '' One of the banners read , `` No to American and Iranian occupation ! '' That includes a reference to Iran 's influence with the Shiite masses and the Iraqi government . Women carried pictures of their sons and husbands who are missing or were killed during the war . `` During this war , so many women lost sons and many others became widows , not only Iraqi women but also American women . We are the ones who paid the price of this war , '' said Shima Kareem , who was among the protesters . Hundreds also turned out in Falluja , in the largely Sunni Anbar province in the west and in Samarra , in Salaheddin province in the north to demand the release of detainees , compensation for victims ' families , and the departure of American troops . Since 2003 , 4,421 U.S. troops have died in Iraq , according to the military figures counted by CNN . A U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 led to the removal of Saddam Hussein 's regime on April 9 . The iconic toppling of the former ruler 's statue in Baghdad 's Firdous Square symbolizes the regime 's fall .
Protesters want U.S. troops out . Gates raises the prospect of some soldiers remaining . Obama says he will not send any more to Iraq, but that is a big step for him and his administration.