Security pact marks major shift in Iraq

Despite opposition from the influential Sadrist Bloc, the Iraqi parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the security pact with the US. The Sunni Bloc, which was expected to vote against the agreement, supported the deal, along with the two main Kurdish parties.

The vote can be perceived as a sign of confidence in the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, which lobbied hard to get the pact approved.

But it also marks a major shift in Iraqi politics. The war-torn country has finally decided to settle its political differences through civilised debate and votes instead of firearms and suicide bombings.

The agreement, which allows the US forces to stay for three more years in the occupied state, is opposed by the majority of Arabs. It is being seen as a deal that legitimises the occupation.

But what is less known is that under the pact, Iraq will finally be removed from the United Nations' guardianship - which forces Iraq to get the Security Council's approval for every sovereign decision. Moreover, the deal spells out for the first time a clear deadline for the withdrawal of American forces.

The pact also gives both Iraq and the upcoming US administration time to decide on a new strategy to end the occupation without compromising on the recent improvement in security.

And that places a responsibility upon Al Maliki and his allies to settle other burning issues - such as rehabilitating the army and security forces, increasing political participation and the much-talked about constitutional changes - to pave the way for a complete US withdrawal.

Al Maliki may consider the vote on the pact as a personal victory. But it is also a historic chance to turn it into a victory for Iraq.