US, Iraq sign security pact

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The US and Iraq have signed a security pact,extending the presence of US forces in Iraq for three years. (CCTV.com)

Under the final draft, the pact would place the US force in Iraq under the authority of the Iraqi government for the first time. It will replace a mandate enacted by the UN Security Council after the war.

It calls for US forces to leave the streets of Iraq's towns and villages by the middle of 2009. And US forces would hand over their bases to Iraq during 2009 and complete the withdrawal on December 31st, 2011.

The pact deprives US troops of the authority to raid Iraqi homes without an order from an Iraqi judge and permission of the government.

It gives Iraq the right to try US soldiers and defense contractors in the case of serious crimes committed off-duty and off-base. It also prohibits the US from using Iraqi territory to attack Iraq's neighbors.

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Mullen, says he feels comfortable with the terms of the agreement. But he also warns that the withdrawal timetable would depend on numerous factors, including security conditions during the withdrawal.

He says he will carry out whatever directions he gets from President-elect Barack Obama after he is inaugurated on January 20th.