By Prensa Latina,
Baghdad : Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in Kerbala, south of the capital, to protest an alleged agreement between Washington and Baghdad to perpetuate US presence in the country.
This was the second demonstration after Muqtada al Sader called on his followers to reject every Friday this possible agreement that, at present, is in draft stage, according to Iraqi sources.
The deal would allow the United States to stay in Iraq, prolonging the deployment of 150,000 soldiers after 2008.
It would maintain 50 bases permanently andásoldiers and builders would have legal immunity.
Deputy Jasin al Asadi told the press that the Iraqis “will not accept an agreement that violates the sovereignty of the country.”
In declarations to the Al Arabiya television, the first vice minister, Barham Salih, criticized the intention of Washington to keep its forces operating without restrictions, which he said is unacceptable.
“Any movement must be under the approval and decision of the Iraqis through consultations,” he affirmed.
The British Independent newspaper revealed that the George W. Bush government is holding about 50 billion dollars of Iraq in the New York Federal Reserve Bank to force it to sign the agreement.
The number of dead US soldiers, on the other hand, increased to 4,093 after the report of a casualty south of Baghdad, informed the occupation command.
The US troops have reported more than 30,000 wounded during the five years of war.á