US-Iraq security agreement deepens split among Shiite groupsnote

The US-Iraq security agreement is expected to the political and regional split within the Shiite groups, notably in central and southern Iraq. The Shiite groups that are opposed to the agreement, notably the Sadrists and the Fadhila Party, are preparing to provoke an overwhelming uprising against the agreement, supported by fatwas issued by two senior Shiite clerics Mohammad Al-Yacoubi and Kazem Al-Hairi. The following 395-word newswire focuses on the issue and tells how the Iranians are reacting.