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| Iraq |
| Iraq says time to decide on military pact with US |
| 2008-10-19 |
| Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Saturday it was time for the leaders of Iraq and the United States to make up their minds on a draft agreement on the future of U.S. troops in the country. "It is time to take decisions. It is difficult to reopen the text," Zebari said at a media briefing, referring to the months-long negotiations for an accord. Zebari said parliament had now either to ratify or reject the draft accord. "There is no hidden agenda. There is no permanent military presence. It is only for three years. The next days are very crucial for Iraqi leaders to decide," Zebari said. The agreement would replace a UN mandate which is the legal basis for the U.S. military presence in Iraq, and also set in motion a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces by the end of 2011. The text of the agreement, portions of which were published in the American press Saturday, reportedly states that Iraq would have the "primary right to exercise judicial jurisdiction" over "premeditated and gross felonies ... committed outside the agreed facilities and areas and when not on a mission." Democrat lawmakers expressed concern about ceding authority over U.S. troops to the Iraqi government. "I am very concerned about reports that US service personnel may not have full immunity under Iraqi law," said House Armed Services Committee chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri, the Washington Post reported. |
| Posted by:Fred |