Iran: US conning Iraqis into slavery

A senior Iranian cleric says signing a security accord to prolong the presence of American troops in Iraq would be an act of treachery.

"Iraqi tribunals will not be able to judge American military personnel and employees working for the US military," said Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, Tehran's interim Friday prayers leader.

Washington has drawn out a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and is currently negotiating with Baghdad on the accord. It will give legal basis to the presence of American troops in Iraq after December 31 when the UN resolution defining their current status expires.

"It would mean open-ended slavery. It would be the worst kind of humiliation. Anyone who signs such an agreement would be betraying Islam and the Iraqi nation," he added.

Khatami said that once such a deal is closed, the key Iraqi ministries of defense, interior and intelligence would be under US supervision for a decade.

"Americans will be able to have private jails in Iraq," he continued.

Pointing to the Doha agreement between the Hezbollah-led opposition and Beirut's Western-backed majority, Ayatollah Khatami said the accord signals that security and stability is returning to Lebanon.

He hailed the Hezbollah Movement's 'political victory' as greater than the victory over Israel in the 33-day war. FULL STORY: