Region | Iraq

PM does not want to grant US forces immunity

Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki will not sign any security agreement with the US unless a specific date for withdrawal is confirmed, Sami Al Askari, adviser to Al Maliki told Gulf News.

  • By Basil AdasCorrespondent
  • Published: 23:12 August 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

Baghdad: Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki will not sign any security agreement with the US unless a specific date for withdrawal is confirmed, Sami Al Askari, adviser to Al Maliki told Gulf News.

In addition to a specific date for withdrawal, Al Maliki does not want to grant US forces immunity from being prosecuted for crimes against Iraqis.

Iraq has two options, according to Al Askari. Iraq could either bring the issue of US troop withdrawal to the Security Council - an option that has little chance of success, or wait for the new US administration to arrange a better deal with the Iraqis.

If Barack Obama is the new US president, Al Askari believes that he would better understand Iraqi demands.

Al Askari said that according to Security Council resolution 1546, Iraq has the right to uphold its sovereignty in all matters.

The US believes if they set a specific date to withdraw, it will be a victory for Al Qaida, a group that pride themselves on sabotaging the US presence in Iraq, according to Al Askari.

The US is waiting for the Iraqi forces to become formidable enough to deal with militia groups.

This way the victory will go to the Iraqis and not the insurgency, Al Askari said.

AL Maliki earlier insisted the process of finalising the deal would be transparent.

Bush and Maliki had agreed last November to formalise such an agreement by July 31.

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