BAGHDAD -- Influential religious leaders across Iraq are voicing reservations about a U.S.-Iraq security agreement that allows Americans to remain in the country for another three years.

Some are cautious in their criticisms. Others -- ones who generally are tied to political parties that fought the pact -- forcefully condemn the treaty.

Their comments filtered in Sunday as Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki met with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of multinational forces in Iraq, to plan for the treaty's implementation.

The pact, which cleared Iraq's parliament Thursday and sets a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces, entails some major changes in authority between U.S. and Iraqi officials.

One clause would require the U.S. to consult with Iraqis before conducting military operations. Another paves the way for the release of some 16,000 detainees in U.S. custody. Another would have the U.S. turn over its control of the International Zone in central Baghdad to Iraqi leaders.

More moderate religious leaders appear generally skeptical that the pact will return sovereignty, while hard-line clerics oppose the whole idea of Iraq's negotiating with the United States over its independence.

A representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, the nation's leading Shiite cleric, suggested the 149-35 vote of approval in Iraq's parliament wasn't broad enough to demonstrate national consensus.

Ahmad al Safi al Najafi, speaking on behalf of Sistani, said the agreement, which takes effect Jan. 1, wouldn't ensure Iraqi sovereignty.

He said Iraqis would have a chance to make their opinions known when the pact goes before voters as a national referendum in July.

That was one of the compromises the ruling Shiite government made to build a broader majority for the agreement. Sunni parties insisted that all Iraqis should vote on the pact.

''The majority of parliament voted for the [agreement], but more than a few people in parliament rejected it,'' Najafi was quoted in a Baghdad newspaper as saying at Friday prayers. ``So we say Iraqi people will be the judge to agree or to reject though the referendum in the middle of next year.''

Cleric Muqtada al Sadr harshly condemned the pact as an infringement on Iraqi sovereignty. Thirty members of parliament in the Sadr party voted unanimously against the deal, and say they'll shut their offices for three days of ``mourning.''

''We pay our condolences to the Iraqi people for the vote for the pact of humiliation and disgrace in the catastrophe of black Thursday,'' said Sheik Muhamad Al Gharawi, a Sadr delegate.

Ayatollah Muhammad al Yacoubi on Saturday joined Sadr in rejecting the pact. Yacoubi is close to the Fadilah party, which refused to vote on the security agreement in parliament.

In Iran, Ayatollah Ahmad Ali Jannati said the United States had coerced Iraq into the arrangement.

Ashton reports for the Modesto (Calif.) Bee.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@