Region | Iraq
Iraq seeks to amend draft security pact with US
Iraq wants to amend a draft security pact with the United States to ban US forces from striking neighbouring countries from Iraqi territory, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.
- Agencies
- Published: 10:35 October 30, 2008
Baghdad: Iraq wants to amend a draft security pact with the United States to ban US forces from striking neighbouring countries from Iraqi territory, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.
Spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said Iraq also wanted to change the wording covering the possible prosecution of US soldiers in Iraqi courts, a sensitive issue for Washington.
US negotiators began on Wednesday to scrutinise the changes demanded by Iraq to the security pact, which sets the conditions for US troops to operate in the country after their United Nations mandate expires in December.
US President George W. Bush said he was still "hopeful and confident" a security deal could be agreed upon.
"We're analysing those amendments, we obviously want to be helpful and constructive without undermining basic principles," Bush said after meeting the leader of Iraq's Kurdistan region, Masoud Barzani, at the White House.
The issue of cross-border attacks flared after Syrian officials said US troops landed by helicopter on Sunday and killed eight civilians in a village. Washington says it targeted a smuggler of foreign fighters into Iraq.
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