Thousands march in Baghdad against pact with US

Baghdad: Thousands of followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada Al Sadr took to the streets on Saturday in a demonstration against a pact that would allow US forces to stay in Iraq for three more years.

Iraq's foreign minister said a draft of the agreement hammered out after months of negotiations was now final and being reviewed by political leaders. Parliament would be given a chance to vote for or against it, but not to make changes.

The agreement "has been presented as a final text by the two negotiating teams. The time now is time for a decision," Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told a news conference. "I believe the next few days will be crucial for the Iraqi leaders to make a political decision and a judgement on this agreement."

At the demonstration across town, marchers waved Iraqi flags and chanted "Yes, yes Iraq! No, no to the occupation!"

A white-turbaned cleric read out what he described as a letter from Al Sadr calling on parliament to vote down the pact.

"I reject and condemn the continuation of the presence of the occupation force, and its bases on our beloved land," the letter said, calling the pact "shameful for Iraq". Marchers set fire to a US flag.

Meanwhile, Bahrain's foreign minister arrived here yesterday for a one-day visit, in the latest sign of improved relations between Iraq and its Arab neighbours. Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa said his visit aimed at showing support to the Iraqi government.