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November 27, 2008

Iraq's Parliament Approves Security Pact with US
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=20AA1FE:A6F02AD83191E160602F5C5EB25BD2E9E55ED32ED25AB8F6&
 
Agreement allows US troops to remain in country until 2011 
Parliament member Osama al-Najaifi speaks to reporters outside
parliament in Baghdad, 26 Nov 2008The Iraqi parliament has approved a
security pact with the United
States that allows U.S. troops to remain in Iraq until the end of 2011.A
majority of Iraqi lawmakers - 144 of 198 present - approved the deal
Thursday in Baghdad by a show of hands. The
vote came after last minute deals that included Iraqi Shi'ite leaders
conceding to a Sunni bloc that a referendum on the pact will be held
within six months. Sunni parties also extracted a promise of political
reforms guaranteeing their minority voice a greater say in government.
The
U.S.-Iraqi security pact must now be approved by Iraq's three-member
presidential council, a move widely expected, before it comes into
force. It would then replace the United Nations mandate for the U.S.
military presence in Iraq that expires on December 31.The
deal calls for U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30
as an interim step. It also gives Iraq strict oversight over U.S.
forces in the country.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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