Region | Iraq
Iraq to seek major changes in US-proposed draft Status of Forces agreement
As the Iraqi government is reviewing the US-proposed draft of the Status of Forces agreement, Gulf News learned of four fundamental changes the Iraqis will propose to the US.
- By Basil Adas, Correspondent
- Published: 12:42 October 22, 2008
Baghdad: As the Iraqi government is reviewing the US-proposed draft of the Status of Forces agreement, Gulf News learned of four fundamental changes the Iraqis will propose to the US.
Sami Al Askari, advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, said the Iraqi government wants to amend the paragraph on US withdrawal from Iraqi towns and villages by the end of 2009, adding a clause for possible extension of this deadline.
Secondly, the government wants to remove the paragraph that says that the Iraqi government has the right to request the US troops to stay until after 2011.
Third, the government will be asking to remove a clause that gives US authorization to fly over Iraqi airspace and to stop in Iraq to refuel. Al Askari attributed this to fear among Iraqi politicians that the US would use Iraq to launch attacks on other countries, specifically Iran.
Finally, the Iraqi government wants to review the clause on immunity of US troops, which has proved to be the most contentious issue between the parties.
The draft given to the Iraqis gives the right to prosecute US soldiers for pre-meditated crimes, but such prosecutions would be determined exclusively by the Americans. The proposed amendment would be that Iraq would share in decisions regarding prosecution of US soldiers for crimes.
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