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Iraqi Opposition To U.S.-Iraq Agreement
The draft of the security agreement that the U.S. is proposing to Baghdad has been met by extensive internal opposition from Sunnis and Shi'ites in Iraq, who fear that the U.S. is striving to maintain a permanent presence and also fear harm to Iraqi sovereignty.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh confirmed that there was disagreement between the two parties to the agreement, adding that there was a definite difference in how each perceived it.
According to an Iraqi source, the Americans seek to maintain various extensive privileges in Iraq's air, sea, and land, and that if the negotiations reach a dead end, Iraq will be forced to turn to the U.N. Security Council for an extension of the U.S. troop presence for six months to a year – until the current U.S. administration is replaced.
Abd Al-Aziz Al-Hakim, head of the biggest Shi'ite bloc in the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, criticized the agreement that is being hammered out.
Also, on Friday, thousands responded to the call by Sadrist leader Muqtada Al-Sadr (see "Senior Iraqi Official: Iraq-U.S. Agreement Will End Iranian Influence") to protest against the agreement and to force the government to put it to a referendum.
Source: Al-Hayat, London, June 3, 2008; Alnajafnews.net, June 2, 2008
Posted at: 2008-06-03
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