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Press TV reports:Iraq's most revered Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has strongly objected to a 'security accord' between the US and Iraq.
The Grand Ayatollah has reiterated that he would not allow Iraq to sign such a deal with "the US occupiers" as long as he was alive, a source close to Ayatollah Sistani said.The source added the Grand Ayatollah had voiced his strong objection to the deal during a meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the holy city of Najaf on Thursday.The remarks were made amid reports that the Iraqi government might sign a long-term framework agreement with the United States, under which Washington would be allowed to set up permanent military bases in the country and US citizens would be granted immunity from legal prosecution in the country.While the mainstream media keep mum about the accord, critics say the agreement would virtually put Iraq under the US tutelage and violate the country's sovereignty.The source added Ayatollah Sistani, however, backed PM al-Maliki's government and its efforts and that of the nation to establish security in the country.The mandate of US troops in Iraq will expire in December 2008 and al-Maliki's government is under US pressure to sign 'a mutual security agreement' which would allow the long-term presence of US troops in Iraq.Washington's plan has so far faced fierce protests by religious figures including Ayatollah Seyyed Kazem Haeri, another senior Shia cleric, and it is expected that other religious figures join the efforts to prevent the deal.The US has signed similar agreements with countries like Japan and South Korea and thousands of US troops are now stationed in the countries.
NAJAF, Iraq, Sept 27--Iraq's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Sistani received Iraqi vice president-cum-the secretary general of the Iraqi Islamic Party, Tariq al-Hashemi, in this holy city, south of Iraqi capital Baghdad, Alalam TV reported Thursday.The meeting came a day after Al-Hashemi published a proposal that he said would help achieve reconciliation in Iraq.The document calls for a blanket pardon for Iraqis who took up arms against the government and the US-led coalition in exchange for laying down their arms and joining the political process.Al-Hashemi, who is also head of the Iraqi Accord Front, told reporters after the meeting that the two sides discussed the political situation in Iraq and the way out of current political standoff.
Al-Hashemi said that the front presented a proposal, including twenty-five points, to Ayatollah Sistani.Al-Hashemi's party is part of a Sunni political alliance in Iraq and he is also a one of high-ranking Sunni political figures that has visit Ayatollah Sistani.The vice president noted that Ayatollah Sistani is acknowledging the situation of Iraq and problems of people in this war-shattered country.Al-Hashemi said, "Ayatollah Sistani welcomed the meeting and stressed the discussions should be continued in the near future".Al-Hashemi noted that he briefed Ayatollah Sistani about the reasons behind the pullout of his Sunni political alliance from government of Prime Minster Nouri al-Maliki as well."We decided to brief Ayatollah Sistani on situation and decisions in premiership frequently in the future", Al-Hashemi said."The time has come to sit around the table and have a candid dialogue about key and sensitive matters," he said.
Moqtada al-Sadr visits with Ali al-Sistani(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr visited, on Sunday night, top Shiite cleric ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in his office in Najaf and both discussed the latest security and political developments in Iraq, a source from Sistani's office said. "Sayyed Muqtada al-Sadr visited, today at 9:30 pm, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and both leaders discussed the political and security situation in the country," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). The source gave no further details. Sadr's visit to sistani today is the first since the young Shiite cleric Sadr resurfaced two weeks ago.Sheikh Fadhlallah Invited to IranTEHRAN, June 12--Top Lebanese Shiite cleric Allameh Mohammad Hossein Fadhlallah has been invited to visit Iran for wide-ranging discussions with officials and religious scholars. An informed source in Fadhlallah’s office, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Fars News Agency that the clergy has not responded to the invitation yet. “In an official invitation from Iran, Sheikh Fadhlallah has been invited to visit Iran to discuss different issues,“ the informed source said. Seyyed Ali Fadhlallah, son of Sheikh Fadhlallah, visited Iran last month at the head of a delegation and met with officials. Religious leaders in Qom had invited Fadhlallah on several occasions in the past for religious debates, which he did not accept. The informed source believes that the recent political upheavals in Lebanon prevent the religious leader from making a foreign trip.
The Grand Ayatollah has reiterated that he would not allow Iraq to sign such a deal with "the US occupiers" as long as he was alive, a source close to Ayatollah Sistani said.
