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Shiite cleric warns of popular uprising against Iraq-U.S long term agreement
(VOI)-A renowned Iraqi Shiite cleric on Sunday warned that a popular uprising may erupt if Iraq signs the long-term agreement with the U.S . The proposed security agreement would cover the status of U.S troops in Iraq, control of Iraqi airspace and immunity for security contractors after United Nations resolution governing U.S forces in Iraq expires in December. Speaking to reporters and clerics in Karbala, grand ayatollah Mohammed Taqqi al-Mudaressi said the proposed security agreement between Iraq and the U.S lacks the overall and in-depth vision of Iraqs general affairs. The cleric expected the agreement would fail if the details of the deal remained as they are in the current draft, adding signing the agreement came while Iraq is deprived of sovereignty under chapter seven of (the Security Council charter). He branded the agreement as a sort of US blackmailimg and a sword strangling Iraqis. Infringing Iraqs sovereignty would not be in the U.S interests as a superpower because the agreement humiliates peoples dignity, pushing them to uprise and to start a new cycle of violence, he pointed out. Iraq's independence is still limited by the legacy of UN sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iraq since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in the 1990s. Iraq has been considered a threat to international security and stability under Chapter Seven of the UN charter. Influential Shiite clerics in Iraq and neighbouring Iran oppose the deal and have called it a move against their religion. They have vowed to stage protests to force the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to roll back the deal which is expected to be concluded by the end of July. Posted by: Fred 2008-06-09 |
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