Middle East News
US agrees to three changes in security pact with Iraq
Nov 3, 2008, 8:03 GMT
Baghdad - The United States has agreed to three out of the five amendments that Iraq made to a long-term security pact between the two countries, the semi-official Iraqi al-Sabah newspaper reported on Monday.
The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) aims to regulate the future of US troops in Iraq after the UN mandate expires at the end of 2008.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said he expects a reply from Washington soon on amendments to the pact which Iraq proposed last week.
The US still insists on immunity for US soldiers in Iraq. According to the US constitution, US citizens who commit crimes in other countries should be judged according to US law, an Iraqi source told al-Sabah.
After a pact is signed, the US would withdraw its troops from Iraq in 36 months, the source added.
British Ambassador in Iraq Christopher Prentice told the Kurdish newspaper al-Taakhi that Britain was keen on reaching an agreement with the Iraqi government since 'very little time remains until the end of this year.'
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Older Talkback
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From the inception the US Imperial escadape in Iraq has been a pitiful display of ignorance, weakness and insecurity....
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ThomasNov 4th, 2008 - 13:51:42
In the constitution that the troops are exempt from local law ?? I think I missed that one.... Is that in the part that allows the president to break any U.S. law.... Any international law ?? But, who really cares WHAT that 'just a piece of paper' says Its only 'kinda a guidline' right ?? And what the constitution says depends on WHO is on the high court......Right ?? So in the U.S. Do the criminals appoint their OWN judges ?? Yes (in this case) they do......
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