Iraq dissatisfied with US reply on security pact, says official

Nov 11, 2008, 10:34 GMT

Baghdad - Iraq on Tuesday expressed its dissatisfaction with the US reply to amendments of the security agreement that will regulate the future of US forces in Iraq, according to an Iraqi government spokesperson.

Ali al-Dabbagh said that the US reply to the amendments 'is not satisfactory' and that 'Iraqis are not going to accept' it.

'The US reply to the Iraqi amendments is not satisfactory and there are many points that still need clarification and amendment,' al-Dabbagh said in an interview with the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

Al-Dabbagh added that it is therefore unlikely that the Iraqi parliament will discuss the reply in its next session.

Iraq last Thursday received Washington's reply on amendments it made to the agreement.

The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) will govern the future of US troops in Iraq after the UN mandate expires at the end of 2008.

Iraqi and Arab media had previously said that the US had agreed to three out of the five amendments that Iraq made to the agreement.

Although both parties had agreed in mid-October that the last draft was final, last week the Iraqi government had handed the US embassy in Baghdad an amended draft.

Among the disputed points in the agreement is the immunity of the US troops in Iraq. Iraq said that US troops who commit crimes off duty should be judged according to Iraqi law, as against the US position that they would be tried by US justice authorities.

Baghdad also aims to seal an agreement with Britain to decide on the future of the 4,100 British troops stationed in Iraq.