Hakim demands Iraqi govt. have say in US security operations

Hakim seems to be unaware that Iraq is an occupied country. He is under the illusion that it is sovereign and thus has a monopoly on the legitimate use of force.


Iraqi Shiite leader wants govt say in US security operations Wed Mar 14, 8:39 AM ET



BAGHDAD (AFP) - One of Iraq's most powerful Shiite leaders, Abdel Aziz Hakim, on Wednesday demanded that the government have a say in security operations being conducted by US forces.

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Hakim, whose son was briefly detained by US troops after crossing the border from Iran last month, said raids on party offices, arrests of politicians and operations involving aircraft should all be agreed in advance between Iraqi and US commanders.

Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), said a security agreement was needed in order to define the responsibilities of Iraqi and US leaders, his office said.

"We are endeavouring to conclude this security deal," he said at a meeting in Baghdad on Wednesday of the governing coalition headed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, of which SCIRI is a part.

Hakim had stressed at the meeting that the focus should be on "arrests, air traffic and other issues," the statement said.

He was furious when his son, Ammar al-Hakim, was arrested February 23 by US forces as he was crossing back into Iraq from Iran.

Hakim junior claimed he had been roughed up before being released, leading President Jalal Talabani to demand "guarantees that such abuses will not be repeated".

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad expressed regret over the incident.

Maliki, too, has been incensed by some of the actions of the coalition forces as they battle insurgents and militias across Iraq.

On March 4, strongly condemned a raid on his interior ministry's intelligence office in the southern port city of Basra by Iraqi and coalition troops.

A British military spokesman said the raid had uncovered evidence of torture but Maliki was unimpressed and demanded "that those behind this illegal and irresponsible act be punished