Iraq wants amendments to U.S. security deal

Source: Xinhua | 10-22-2008 08:09

BAGHDAD, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's cabinet on Tuesday demanded changes on draft security pact that would allow U.S. troops to stay in Iraq beyond the UN mandate at the end of the year.

"The cabinet unanimously agreed that amendments are necessary for the security pact so that it would be nationally acceptable," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his ministers took the decision after a meeting held Tuesday to review the articles of the draft security deal, Dabbagh said.

The cabinet will meet again and the ministers will give their suggestions and opinions for the amendments to send them to the American negotiators, Dabbagh added.

The long-delayed agreement has raised objections among various Iraqi factions, including the ruling Shiite one, while the expiration of the UN mandate is looming near.

On Sunday, the largest political bloc in the parliament, the Unified Iraqi Alliance (UIA), raised issue with a draft of the agreement, when Maliki, whose his Dawa Party is part of UIA, reviewed the current draft with top leaders of the alliance and said changes still needed to be made in order to guarantee Iraq's sovereignty and the interests of its people.

The draft said that the U.S. troops would leave Iraq by Dec. 31,2011. The deal also gave the Iraqi courts to prosecute American service members in case of accusing them of serious crimes while off duty.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei