Iraqi PM discusses US pact with Shiite cleric

BAGHDAD — Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric indicated Friday he would not stand in the way of a long-term U.S. security deal if it's approved by the country's democratic institutions, the prime minister said.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's office had no comment. Public opposition by the aging Iranian-born cleric could scuttle any agreement because of his vast influence within the majority Shiite community.

Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who opposes an accord to extend the U.S. presence beyond the end of the year, marched through eastern Baghdad to mourn the killing of a Sadrist lawmaker.

Following a 2 1/2 hour meeting in Najaf, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Sistani believed the security agreement was the responsibility of "the Iraqis and the political groups" and that he would raise no objections to a deal "as long as it comes through official and state institutions."

"He does not want anything forced or imposed on the Iraqi people," al-Maliki said. "Rather he wants it to be done through the institutions. If the government and the parliament approve this, then the Sayyid (al-Sistani) will be convinced that is what the Iraqi people have decided."

U.S. and Iraqi officials have said they are close to an agreement that would replace the U.N. mandate for American-led forces in Iraq, which expires on Dec. 31. But the thorniest issue of legal jurisdiction and immunity for U.S. troops remains unresolved.

Al-Maliki said talks on the deal are in the "final stages" and the U.S. had made "very big" concessions, including agreeing to pull U.S. forces back to their bases by the end of June and to a full withdrawal by Dec. 31, 2011.

U.S. negotiators have not publicly confirmed a fixed withdrawal schedule, saying they want reductions linked instead to security conditions.

However, one senior U.S. official, close to the talks, confirmed Friday that the draft agreement contains those dates.

The official, who requested anonymity to talk about the ongoing private negotiations, said the U.S. still believes pulling the troops out of Iraq must be based on security conditions, but can live with the language in the draft deal.

Al-Sistani traditionally avoids interfering in the day-to-day running of the government.

However, his insistence that Iraq's first constitution after the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein be drafted by elected officials forced the United States to change its blueprint for the country's transition to democratic rule.

Al-Sistani also forced the Americans to agree to the first post-Saddam elections in January 2005, even though many U.S. officials believed the country was too unstable for a meaningful balloting.

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