Thousands of Iraqis rallied at two central Baghdad intersections on Friday, meeting a call by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr for a "million strong" protest against the American military presence, following the US killing of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and deputy chief of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The march aims to pressure Washington to pull out its troops, but many anti-government protesters fear it could overshadow their separate, months-long demonstrations that have challenged Iran-backed groups grip on power. Throngs of marchers started gathering early on Friday at al-Hurriya Square in central Baghdad and near around the citys main university, Reuters witnesses said. Marchers avoided Tahrir square, symbol of mass protests against Iraq ruling elites. "We want them all out - America, Israel, and the corrupt politicians in government," said Raed Abu Zahra, a health ministry worker from southern city of Samawa, who arrived by bus at night and stayed in Sadr City, a sprawling district of Baghdad controlled by the clerics followers. "We support the protests in Tahrir as well, but understand why Sadr held this protest here so it doesnt take attention from theirs," he added. Men and women marched waving the red, white and black national colors, and chanted slogans against the United States, which leads a military coalition against the ISIS group in Iraq and Syria.‘Do not cross this barrier’ Some were wearing symbolic white robes indicating theyre willing to die for their country while others sat looking out over the square from half finished buildings, holding signs reading "No, no, America, no, no, Israel, no, no, colonialists". Marchers were protected by Sadrs Saraya al-Salam brigades and the PMF, witnesses said. It is unclear if the march will end up at the gates of the US Embassy, the seat of US power in Iraq and the scene of violent clashes last month when militia supporters tried to storm the compound. Main roads in Baghdad were barricaded by security forces and the citys Green Zone, which houses foreign missions, were blocked off with concrete barriers. Outside the US embassy, a sign reads "Warning. Do not cross this barrier, we will use preemptive measures against any attempt to cross". The US killing of Soleimani in Baghdad this month has raised the specter of more civil strife in a country torn by years of sectarian conflict. For the first time in nearly two years, parliament voted along sectarian lines to press the government to kick out US forces. Shiite parties voted in favor, while Sunni Muslim and Kurdish lawmakers boycotted the session.