When the bill came up for its second reading in November, many MPs left the country to go on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. This was strongly criticised by Sistani, who said MPs should "assume their national and historical responsibility to give their opinion frankly about the agreement".Top Iraq Shiite Cleric Demands MP Vote on US Pact, Agence France Presse via Asharq Al-Awsat, 2008-11-20 When first debated the vote was shouted down by opponents from the Sadrist Movement, but it was passed the following day.
