MPs discuss security draft behind closed doors

Baghdad: As the Iraqi government analyses the final draft of a security pact with the United States before submitting it to parliament, MPs are discussing it behind closed doors.

"We will accept the draft agreement if we make sure it respects Iraqi sovereignty and the interests of the Iraqi people. But this does not mean we will quickly pass the draft, as there is no incentive to do so," a leader in the Shiite Alliance bloc, Hassan Sari, told Gulf News.

Political observers in Baghdad say that parliamentary approval is conditional upon the confirmation that the withdrawal date for American troops of December 31, 2011, will not be moved.

"Iraq needs a security agreement with the US to ensure the security of its borders and prevent the intervention of regional states in its affairs. Therefore we will agree on this pact after ensuring that it is committed to the sovereignty and the interests of Iraqis and that the neighbouring countries will leave Iraq to decide its own destiny," Khalaf Al Olayan, a leader of the Sunni Accordance Front, told Gulf News.

According to sources, one of the differences on the draft agreement is the desire of the US government to appoint thousands of personnel at its embassy in Baghdad.

"We do not want to reject the draft but there are issues to be discussed within the Iraqi parliament, including the broad US diplomatic presence in Iraq, which would be like a small army," Mohammad Al Tamimi, Vice-Chairman of the Arab Bloc Front for National Dialogue, told Gulf News.