Iraq cabinet replies to U.S. final draft of troop pact

[struggle4progress]

Source: Reuters

Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:56pm EST

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's cabinet responded on Monday to the final draft of a long-awaited security pact that would require U.S. troops to leave the country by the end of 2011, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's media adviser said.

"Our response to the U.S. amendments of the security pact has been delivered to the Presidency Council tonight," Yasin Majeed told Reuters, referring to a body made up of President Jalal Talabani and his two vice presidents.

Majeed declined to say whether the cabinet had accepted the final U.S. draft, but said the amended text would now be passed on to the speaker of parliament and his two deputy speakers. Parliament must approve the draft for it to take effect ...

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4A962V20081110

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New Iraq pact rules out US troops past 2011
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA – 5 hours ago

BAGHDAD (AP) — The proposed U.S.-Iraqi security pact removes language authorizing Iraq to ask U.S. soldiers to stay beyond 2011 and bans cross-border attacks from Iraqi soil, according to a copy of the draft obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

The latest draft, sent Thursday to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, also strengthens language regarding Iraqi sovereignty but does not appear to make significant changes in the limited legal authority granted to Iraq to prosecute U.S. soldiers for major crimes committed off post and off duty.

But it was unclear whether the changes would be enough to silence critics — especially among the majority Shiite community — who have complained the deal favors U.S. interests over Iraq's.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki plans to show the draft to President Jalal Talabani and the two vice presidents. Later, he will submit it to the Cabinet and if the ministers agree, he will forward it to parliament for a final decision ...

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j7g6UUABta3tWw73QQ846-R45TKwD94C3O3O6

[struggle4progress]

1. "The Nov. 10 story headlined "Iraq cabinet responds to U.S. draft of troops pact" is wrong and is

withdrawn. The source for the story, Iraqi government media adviser Yasin Majeed, says his remarks were misunderstood. The Iraqi government has sent the text of the final U.S. draft to the Presidency Council but has not sent its own response ...

ADVISORY - Withdrawal of Iraq cabinet story
Tue Nov 11, 2008 2:49pm IST
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-36430820081111