Shiite Muslims tribal leaders protest in support of the Iraqi-U.S.

security agreement. Meanwhile, lawmakers loyal to Shiite cleric

Moqtada al-Sadr shouted down the National Assembly's second

reading of the pact, which would allow US troops to remain.

 

 

Azzaman, Iraq

'Largest Demonstration in Five Years' Held in Support of U.S. Security Deal

 

"Thousands of the province's inhabitants participated in this demonstration, including tribal leaders, members of the upper class, Salah ad-Din authorities, political groups, civic groups and the Salah ad-Din masses. They are here to express their support for the security agreement, and the inclusion of a timetable for withdrawal of American forces."

 

-- Farhan al-'Aoud, provincial advisor to Prime Minister Maliki

 

By Mazin Abdul Hamid

 

Translated By Jenny Oliver

 

November 19, 2008

 

Iraq - Azzaman - Original Article (Arabic)

The outline of the Status of Forces Agreement between the governments of Iraq and the United States.

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: The Iraqi cabinet approves a security pact with the United States. Now it's up to the Iraqi National Assembly, Nov. 16, 00:01:16RealVideo

Tikrit: A mass demonstration in support of the American-Iraqi security agreement, which includes a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, got underway on Wednesday morning in Tikrit [95 miles north of Baghdad]. The protesters set off on foot at 9am from the headquarters of the Public Union for the Farmer's Cooperative in the downtown part of the city. They marched toward the Salah ad-Din Province [map left ] Administrative Building, declaring their support for the security deal and demanding amendments to the Constitution. The demonstrators also called for a release of detainees held in American prisons and for Iraqi legal sovereignty all prisoners.

 

[Editor's Note: Tikrit is the 1937 birthplace of Saddam Hussein and was a hotbed of the Sunni insurgency. According to U.S. forces, after the fall of Baghdad Saddam was captured in a hole in the ground some 15 miles away].

 

Farhan al-'Aoud, provincial advisor to Prime Minister Maliki and leader of the demonstration, said, “This huge gathering was organized by the tribes and authorities of Salah ad-Din. Thousands of the province's inhabitants participated in this demonstration, including tribal leaders, members of the upper class, Salah ad-Din authorities, political groups, society's civic organizations and the Salah ad-Din masses. They are here to express their support for the security agreement, and the inclusion of a timetable for withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. In addition to the other demands, they also support changing some articles of the Constitution, which were written in too much of a hurry.”  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

 

Sheikh Mohammad Hassan 'Atiya, president of the Union for the Farmer's Cooperative, said, “Farmers support President Nouri al-Malaki's efforts  to include a timetable for withdrawal in the security agreement; this is a Union for Iraqis. We also support changes to articles of the Iraqi Constitution and calls for the release of Iraqi detainees held by American forces.”

 

The demonstration, which was the largest demonstration in five years, lasted two hours and ended without incident.

 

CLICK HERE FOR ARABIC VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US November 21, 12:55am]

 








































Apparently, not everyone agrees on the reason for supporting the pact. Two days after this artticle was written, this protest of about 500, in which people chanted anti-U.S. slogans - also in Tikrit - but demanded a deadline for a U.S. troop withdrawal.


A man kisses a poster showing Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki signing the Status of Forces Agreement with the U.S. The document was signed by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker and Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari Monday.