Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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November 6, 2008

US Responds to Iraq Security Pact Changes
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F2C0E4:A6F02AD83191E160DE7AAC645907BC1E21A4E82C900CD027&
 
Iraqi officials did not give details on pact that would allow US troops
to remain in country after UN mandate expires at end of December 
Iraqi officials say the United States responded officially Thursday to
Iraqi proposals for changing a security pact between the two countries.
Officials did not give any specifics about the response. U.S. and Iraqi
officials have been trying since May to finalize a deal that would allow
U.S. troops to remain in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at the end of
December. Iraq is proposing changes to a draft agreement to give Baghdad
more authority over U.S. troops and guarantee that Iraqi territory will
not be used to attack other countries. In violence Thursday, Iraqi
police say two roadside bombs exploded during the morning rush hour in
Baghdad, killing at least four people and wounding seven others. Police
say the bombs targeted a checkpoint in the center of the capital - the
Sheik Omar district. Two of the victims were civilians. US soldiers (L)
secure area as Iraqi soldiers inspect car damaged by roadside bomb in
Sadr City, Baghdad, 06 Nov 2008Iraqi authorities also say a roadside
bomb wounded nine people in the capital's Shi'ite district, Sadr City.
On Wednesday, a car bomb exploded at a checkpoint on the road to
Baghdad's airport, killing four people, including two policemen, and
wounding nine others. The bombings follow a series of attacks Monday and
Tuesday that left at least 24 people dead. The latest violence also
follows U.S. military reports that violence was at a four-year low.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military says coalition forces conducted multiple
operations Thursday in Mosul, capturing nine people with suspected ties
to al-Qaida in Iraq.

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


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