US pact worries Iraqi cleric

2008-10-29 21:11

Baghdad - Iraq wants a security agreement with the US to include a clear ban on US troops using Iraqi territory to attack Iraq's neighbours, the government spokesperson said on Wednesday, three days after a dramatic US raid on Syria.

Also on Wednesday, the country's most influential Shiite cleric expressed concern that Iraqi sovereignty be protected in the pact.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani wields vast influence among the Shiite majority and his explicit opposition could scuttle the deal.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the ban was among four proposed amendments to the draft agreement approved by the Cabinet this week and forwarded to the US

Al-Dabbagh said the Iraqis want the right to declare the agreement null and void if the US unilaterally attacks one of Iraq's neighbours.

US troops launched a daring daylight attack on Sunday a few kilometres into Syrian territory against what US officials said was a key figure in al-Qaeda's operation that moves foreign fighters and weapons into Iraq.

A senior US official said the al-Qaeda figure, an Iraqi known as Abu Ghadiyah, was killed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the raid was classified.

Syria says eight civilians died, and has demanded an apology from the US.

Agreement does not go far enough

For nearly two weeks, Iraqi politicians have been considering the draft security agreement, which would keep US troops in Iraq through 2011 unless both sides agree that they could stay longer.

The pact would also give the Iraqis a greater role in supervising US military operations and allow Iraqi courts to try US soldiers and contractors accused of major crimes off duty and off base.

But critics say the current version, reached after months of tough negotiations, does not go far enough in protecting Iraqi sovereignty, and key Shiite politicians argue it stands little chance of approval in Iraq's fractious parliament in its current form.

The agreement must be approved by the end of the year when the current UN mandate expires or the US military would have to suspend all operations in Iraq.

Other amendments sought

Al-Dabbagh said other amendments sought by the Iraqis include a clear definition of "duty" when cases arise involving crimes committed off base.

The Iraqis also want to inspect all US military shipments entering or leaving Iraq.

"The Americans must realise that these changes are necessary to enable the government to persuade the people to accept the agreement," al-Dabbagh said.

The Iraqis insist those measures are essential to convince the public that the government is truly sovereign, a theme repeated by al-Sistani.

A statement issued by his office said the Iranian-born cleric wants to ensure that "Iraq's sovereignty not be breached" by the accord and that he was monitoring the situation "until the final content of the security agreement becomes clear".

- AP