Iraqi leaders were set to hold further talks yesterday on a security pact with Washington that would determine the presence of US troops beyond this year but is fiercely opposed by some key players.
The Iraqi Cabinet and the high-level Political Council for National Security were both expected to discuss the controversial draft agreement over the next two days, the state-owned al-Sabah newspaper reported.
“We are continuing our talks with the Iraqis and the Iraqis are talking among themselves. That is to be expected and we hope to move forward on this,” US embassy spokeswoman Susan Ziadeh also told reporters.
PHOTO: AP
Powerful anti-US Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is strongly opposed to the deal, and even senior leaders of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s ruling alliance have come out against it, saying further changes are necessary.
The so-called Status of Forces Agreement is aimed at providing the legal basis for a US troop presence in Iraq after the present UN mandate expires on Dec. 31.
It was due to be concluded by the end of July but negotiations bogged down in squabbles over a series of sticking points.
Under the latest draft agreement, US combat forces will withdraw from Iraqi towns and villages by next June and from the country completely by December 2011.
A draft copy made available to reporters said that Washington had agreed to offer powers to Baghdad to prosecute its soldiers and civilians if they commit serious offenses outside their bases and when off duty.
The decision, which aims to resolve a key Iraqi bone of contention, is seen as a hard-won concession for Maliki, who has taken a tough stand on protecting Iraqi sovereignty in the negotiations with Washington.
The two sides have also agreed that all military operations will be carried out with the approval of Baghdad under the supervision of a Joint Military Operation Coordination Committee.
The agreement also restricts US military powers by permitting troops to detain Iraqis only through an Iraqi order.
If the deal is signed by Baghdad and Washington and approved by the Iraqi parliament, it will become effective on Jan. 1 and last for three years, during which a phased withdrawal of US forces is outlined.
A failure to agree on the terms would force Baghdad and Washington to find another legal framework for the US troops, who first invaded Iraq in 2003 and ousted the regime of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
The latest draft was discussed on Sunday by the Political Council for National Security, which includes Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Maliki and other senior government officials.
They discussed the ability of the Iraqi army to defend the country once US troops withdraw and whether the pact would have any impact on the nation’s oil wealth, Naseer al-Ani, a senior official in Talabani’s office told Al-Sabah.
However, the deal is vehemently opposed by some key factions including Sadr and his supporters, who poured on to the streets of Baghdad on Saturday to demand the immediate withdrawal of US troops.
Sadr on Saturday also urged parliament not to approve the accord while on Sunday senior leaders of Maliki’s ruling alliance spoke out against it.
“There are positive points and others need more time to be discussed, and others need modification,” the United Iraqi Alliance said in a statement.
Maliki has decided to postpone his visit to Australia scheduled for next week because of the ongoing negotiations.
If a deal is not signed by the end of the year, Iraq may have to seek a fresh extension of the UN mandate to allow the continuing deployment of foreign forces.
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