WASHINGTON, Iraq: Sayyed Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, Iraqi leader, while delivering a lecture on Shi'ite Islamic freedoms and the future of Iraq at Catholic University in the United States said Islam allows for political freedoms that are essential for Iraq.

"Man is free to choose what he wants, to live whenever he likes, to adopt any political system, to speak his opinion even though this opinion might contradict that of the ruler," said Al-Hakim who heads the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution. This group holds a large block of seats in the Iraqi parliament

He said Islam's political freedoms come with an important responsibility.

"It believes in the freedom of mankind to take any position with regard to the public issues as long as this does not violate the public interests," he said.

He said people are given wide freedoms as long as they do not threaten to destroy society or promote fighting or corruption.

Hakim voiced his regret that some groups in his country and elsewhere are using Islam in order to, what he calls "cover up their crimes."

"The tragedies that we see in Iraq today are because of those who misunderstood Islam and harmed Islam by their own actions and crimes against Islam," said Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim.

He added that some of these groups, which kill Muslims and non-Muslims alike, have their own political agenda.

Hakim has been in Washington for briefings with top US officials at the invitation of the White House. On Monday, he met with President Bush and said peace and stability in Iraq is in the hands of the Iraqi people.