Thousands of supporters of anti-US cleric march through eastern Baghdad to mourn killing of Sadrist lawmaker.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFMuqtada al-Sadr march 224.88(photo credit: AP)
Iraq's prime minister met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Friday and indicated the country's most influential Shi'ite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, would not try to block a long-term US security deal if it's approved by constitutional institutions.
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of the anti-US cleric, who opposes an accord that would extend the US presence beyond the end of the year, marched through eastern Baghdad to mourn the killing of a Sadrist lawmaker.
US and Iraqi officials have said they are close to an agreement that would replace the UN mandate for American-led forces in Iraq, which expires on Dec. 31. But the thorniest issue of legal jurisdiction and immunity for US troops remains unresolved.
Al-Sistani's office had no comment. Public opposition by the aging Iranian-born cleric could scuttle any agreement because of his vast influence within the majority Shi'ite community.
Following a 2 1/2 hour meeting in Najaf, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Sistani believed the security agreement was the responsibility of "the Iraqis and the political groups" and that he would raise no objections" to a deal "as long as it comes through official and state institutions."
"He does not want anything forced or imposed on the Iraqi people," al-Maliki said. "Rather he wants it to be done through the institutions. If the government and the parliament approve this, then the Sayyid (al-Sistani) will be convinced that is what the Iraqi people have decided."
Al-Maliki also said al-Sistani believes that "all the components" of Iraqi people should participate in the decision and in "resolving this matter through constitutional institutions."
The prime minister said talks on the agreement are in the "final stages" and the US had made "very big" concessions, including agreeing to pull US forces back to their bases by the end of June and to a full withdrawal of US forces by the end of 2011.
US negotiators have not confirmed agreement on a fixed withdrawal schedule, saying they want reductions linked instead to security conditions.
"These are positive things achieved in the preliminary talks, yet there are still sticking points such as immunity for the US soldiers and the American civilian elements," al-Maliki told reporters.
Al-Sistani traditionally avoids interfering in the day-to-day running of the government.
However, his insistence that Iraq's first constitution after the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein be drafted by elected officials forced the United States to change its blueprint for the country's transition to democratic rule.
Al-Sistani also forced the Americans to agree to the first post-Saddam elections in January 2005, even though many US officials believed the country was too unstable for a meaningful balloting.
In Baghdad, thousands of Sadrists walked through the sprawling Shi'ite slum of Sadr City behind a car carrying the casket of politician Saleh al-Auqaeili, who was killed by a roadside bomb on Thursday.
The body was then taken to Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, to be buried.
A statement from al-Sadr was read out at the Sadr City procession praising al-Auqaeili for dedicating himself to "get the occupier outside Iraq," using common rhetoric for the US
The cleric's supporters oppose the negotiations for a security agreement, and some blamed US and Iraqi forces for Thursday's blast.
Suspicion also fell on Shi'ite splinter groups - some with suspected links to Iran, which has sheltered al-Sadr for nearly 18 months - raising fears of new internal Shi'ite bloodshed ahead of regional elections expected in January.
Clashes also erupted late Thursday in Sadr City when suspected Shi'ite militants fired small-arms and rocket-propelled grenades at US and Iraqi forces, wounding one American soldier, the US military said Friday.
Maj. Mark Cheadle, a spokesman for US forces in Baghdad, said air support was called in as the Iraqi soldiers cleared homes and pursued the attackers.
In Mosul, Ninevah province Gov. Duraid Mohammed Kashmoula said 80 Christian families have fled the northern city in the last week for Christian towns and villages nearby.
That followed concerns raised by the killings of several Christians by gunmen this month.
"The families have left fearing for their lives and no one can blame them," Kashmoula said, adding police were implementing a plan to protect the minority religious community in the city.
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