Baghdad - Fiery Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on his supporters Friday to pray and hold a peaceful demonstration against the US-Iraqi security pact in Baghdad next week.

"I hope that all Muslims in the Muslim and Arab worlds would support the demonstration morally by joining unified prayers in their countries," he said.

The United States has been negotiating with the Iraqi government over a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that would extend the mandate of US forces in Iraq beyond the end of this year, when the previous UN authorization runs out.

The pact has yet to be approved by Iraq's cabinet and parliament.

In a statement read after Friday prayers in Baghdad's Sadr City, the Iran-based Shiite cleric called on Arab governments to use their influence to removal US occupation forces out of Iraq, the Voices of Iraq news agency reported.

Al-Sadr also threatened to support attacks on US forces if they did not leave Iraq.

"I am renewing calls on the occupier to get out of our beloved Iraq, without retaining bases or signing agreements," al-Sadr said. "In case they stay, I urge the honorable resistance fighters ... to direct their weapons exclusively against the occupier."

In July, al-Sadr said he was disbanding most of his own militia, which he said would turn toward cultural activities. He added however that he would retain a small combat unit of loyal fighters.

Tens of thousands of al-Sadr supporters demonstrated in Baghdad in October against the draft security deal. (dpa)