Region | Iraq
Iraqi cabinet agrees on changes to security deal
Iraq's cabinet agreed on Tuesday an amendments to a deal allowing US troops to stay in the country, the government's spokesman said, adding the changes would cover the pact's substance as well as wording.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:31 October 28, 2008
Baghdad: Iraq's cabinet agreed on Tuesday an amendments to a deal allowing US troops to stay in the country, the government's spokesman said, adding the changes would cover the pact's substance as well as wording.
Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki "has been authorised to put forward the amended version to the Americans," Ali Al Dabbagh said afterTuesday's cabinet meeting.
Asked if the amendments were to the wording, Dabbagh said, "Wording yes and some to the content."
The prospect of additional changes to the pact, which will provide a legal basis for the approximately 150,000 US troops in Iraq once a United Nations mandate expires on December 31, will likely be met with further exasperation by Washington. After months of intense negotiations, it appeared as late as last week that a finalised agreement was on its way to the Iraqi parliament for a vote. But debate among Iraq's political class, and the proposed amendments agreed upon yesterday, underscore the deep divisions about the foreign military presence more than five years after the US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussain.
Washington has made major concessions, agreeing to withdraw troops by the end of 2011 and allowing Iraqi courts to try American troops for serious crimes committed off duty.
The US has indicated that it would listen to proposals for minor adjustments in the pact's wording but does not want to renegotiate the substance of the accord.
Complications: US issues warnings
A US raid into Syria on Sunday, which may have killed a man believed to be helping foreign fighters enter Iraq, could complicate the deal's prospects even further.
As the clock ticks, US officials have begun to issue warnings about what may occur if there is no security deal, extension of the UN mandate, or alternative in place. Iraqi officials have said they prefer not to resort to an extension of the UN mandate, but could do so if needed.
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