Sunday, March 18, 2007
Ammar al-Hakim - U.S. military powers in Iraq should be curtailed
Politics, Security
(Gulf News) An influential Shiite cleric whose arrest last month by US troops sparked protests said yesterday the powers of the US military in Iraq should be curtailed since they infringed on his country's sovereignty. Ammar Al Hakim, son of Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, one of Iraq's most powerful Shiite leaders, was speaking at a rally in Najaf.
"We should have a security agreement that defines the authority of each party. [US-led] forces cannot have outright powers because this affects our sovereignty," he declared. Al Hakim also called for the release of all prisoners detained in Iraq who have no evidence against them. "We ask for the speedy release of all prisoners that do not have evidence against them. Keeping thousands in detention is unacceptable."
"We should have a security agreement that defines the authority of each party. [US-led] forces cannot have outright powers because this affects our sovereignty," he declared. Al Hakim also called for the release of all prisoners detained in Iraq who have no evidence against them. "We ask for the speedy release of all prisoners that do not have evidence against them. Keeping thousands in detention is unacceptable."
Labels: Ammar al-Hakim, U.S. military
