BAGHDAD: The leader of Iraq's largest Shi'ite political party on Saturday called for a "security agreement" to be negotiated between Iraq and US-led forces to outline the authorities of each side in a further indication of growing frustration over America's role in Iraq.
Abdul Aziz Al Hakim did not give more details of the proposed pact, but he has in the past repeatedly complained that the US military's lead in the fight against Sunni insurgents hampered the work of Iraq's Shi'ite-dominated security forces, contending they were better qualified to fight them given their knowledge of the terrain and language.
Al Hakim's party, however, has been firm that US and other foreign troops in Iraq should not leave before the country's fledgling security forces are competent enough to take over the responsibility for security.
"We are working toward reaching a security agreement to define the authority of each side," Al Hakim told a news conference after a two-day meeting of his party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Iraq's biggest Shi'ite party yesterday pledged its allegiance to the country's top Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, in a move that would distance it from Shi'ite Iran where it was formed.
The Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) said it had introduced significant policy changes and changed its name to the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) - dropping the word "Revolution". Officials told Reuters on Friday that the changes were aimed at giving the party more of an Iraqi flavour and to reflect the changing situation in the country since the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
In other developments, US Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday to seek its help in Iraq, two months after close ally King Abdullah slammed the "illegitimate foreign occupation" of that war-torn land.
Cheney, who arrived in the northern town of Tabuk §is to have talks and dinner with the Saudi monarch during a brief visit to the kingdom.
Also, Iraq's parliament, in a stormy session yesterday, adopted a resolution objecting to the construction of security walls around Baghdad neighbourhoods and calling on Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki to testify about security issues.
