The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
October 10, 2011

Iraq Prime Minister: U.S. Troops May Stay Beyond 2011 Withdrawal Date 
----------------------------------------------------------------------



In news from Iraq, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki says U.S troops can
stay in Iraq as trainers beyond a 2011 withdrawal date, despite a
decision by the country's leaders to reject immunity for any American
soldiers. Iraq's leadership agreed last week that U.S. troops can stay
on for training, but without the legal protections demanded by
Washington.

Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq Prime Minister: "Since the need for training exists
and all the political blocks acknowledge that, we have a number of
choices. Now there is dialogue between us and the Americans including a
proposal for the U.S. troops to be part of the NATO as we have an
agreement with NATO. The parliament is currently discussing a law that
could allow U.S. experts and trainers to stay as part of 300-strong NATO
training mission."



.