Region | Iraq
US-Iraq pact will succeed only if key players back it, warns Al Sistani
Cleric's comment comes as parliament prepares to vote on extension of US troop mission.
- AP
- Published: 21:50 November 18, 2008
Baghdad: Iraq's top Shiite cleric said on Tuesday that the US-Iraqi security pact would only be viable if the country's main political groups backed it and it restored the country's full sovereignty.
The comment by Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani came as the 275-seat parliament prepared for a Nov-ember 24 vote on the pact, which would allow US troops to stay in Iraq for three more years. If passed by the legislature, it would then require ratification by the president and his two deputies.
Al Sistani has not publicly taken a clear position on the pact, but he has indicated that it could only work if it is passed by a comfortable majority in parliament.
His latest comments came in a statement issued by his office in the holy city of Najaf, south of Baghdad. It said they were made in response to a question by a follower on what it termed 'claims in the media' that the cleric supported the pact.
The Iraqi Cabinet has overwhelmingly approved the pact, meaning pros-pects of it passing in parliament are good since Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's coalition partners dominate the legislature.
A senior official close to Al Sistani has said that the cleric, who can bury the agreement if he publicly speaks against it, told two Al Maliki emissaries on Saturday that while not ideal, the document seemed to be the best possible option.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to publicise what took place in the meeting, said Al Sistani made clear to the two that it would be 'unbecoming' for him to speak publicly in favour of the agreement because of his religious status.
Al Sistani has not publicly taken a clear position on the pact, but has indicated that it must have support from all key players.
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