Growing Iraqi opposition to security pact

BAGHDAD, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said in Tehran the people of Iraq had voiced their opposition to the Washington security pact.

Jaafari made his statements following a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president and head of the Expediency Council, following weekend protests over the measure, Voices of Iraq said.

"For the first time, Iraqis have expressed their viewpoint on the agreement," the former Iraqi prime minister said.

Followers of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr took to the streets of Baghdad during the weekend in demonstrations against the bilateral agreement set to replace the expiring U.N. mandate for Iraq.

Washington had considered the agreement to be in its final version, though Iraqi lawmakers Tuesday said the measure may require amendments.

For his part, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari expressed doubts the Iraqi Parliament would pass the current version of the agreement before the U.S. presidential election Nov. 4.

"Because of the differences among the political groups, we don't believe the deal will be approved now. Iraq still hopes to sign this deal before the end of the year," he said.