Security pact to damage sovereignty – 70% believe in survey

KARBALA / IraqiNews.com: Thirty-five percent of Iraqis have no detailed idea about the content of the proposed Iraqi-U.S. security pact while 70% thought it would damage Iraq’s sovereignty, according to a survey by an NGO in Karbala. “The five-question poll comprised 500 persons,” the spokesperson of al-Marefa Cultural Foundation told IraqiNews.com . “Survey results that were revealed yesterday showed that 35% have no details about the agreement, 45% have incomplete information about it, while only 20% said that they have a detailed idea about it,” Adheem Dayan said. “Three percent said the pact would serve Iraq’s interests, 53% said it would serve U.S. interests, 39% said it would serve both sides’ interests, and only five percent abstained,” he added. “Forty percent believed that Iraq’s parliament should vote on the status-of-forces agreement (SOFA), 57% said that the Iraqi people should vote on it and three percent abstained,” he noted. “Twenty-six percent accepted the pact as it is now, 71% did not accept it, while only three percent abstained,” he added. Al-Marefa Cultural Foundation, established in the holy Shiite province of Karbala in 2003 after the overthrow of the former regime, is interested in disseminating culture and human rights. MH (S)/AmR 1