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Rice in surprise visit to Baghdad Deal on US troops in Iraq 'close'
(about 12 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Baghdad to discuss the future of American forces deployed in Iraq. Iraq's foreign minister has said Iraq and the US are "very close" to a deal on the future of US forces in Iraq.
Ms Rice is holding talks with Iraqi leaders including Prime Minister Nouri Maliki during the unannounced visit. Hoshyar Zebari says both sides were redoubling efforts to bring 10 months of tough negotiations to a conclusion.
It comes after 10 months of difficult negotiations between Washington and Baghdad about the status of US troops on Iraqi soil. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice - on an unannounced trip to Baghdad - said the final deal would be in line with Iraqi laws and sovereignty.
Reports suggest a compromise draft agreement is being considered by both governments. US troops' immunity from prosecution and the timing of a US pull-out remain to be resolved, correspondents say.
Negotiations have been held up by disagreement over the timing of the final withdrawal of US forces from the country and the immunity of US soldiers from prosecution under Iraqi law, says the BBC's Crispin Thorold in Baghdad. The draft deal being discussed includes a commitment that US troops will start to pull out of Iraq's cities from next summer, moving to large bases out of public view, says the BBC's Crispin Thorold in Baghdad.
'No agreement yet' Really, we are very, very close to closing this agreement and as we said from the beginning, there is no hidden agenda here Hoshyar ZebariIraqi Foreign Minister
Included in a draft Status of Forces Agreement being considered is a commitment that US troops will start to withdraw from cities across the country from next summer, moving to large bases, out of public view, our correspondent reports. In a joint news conference, Mr Zebari and Ms Rice said they had agreed timetables should be set for a withdrawal, adding that a framework was close, but not final yet.
There is no reason to believe that there is an agreement yet Condoleezza RiceUS Secretary of State "We have agreed that some goals, some aspirational timetables for how that might unfold, are well worth having in [the Status of Forces Agreement]," Ms Rice said, after meeting with Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.
Ms Rice scotched local media reports an agreement had already been reached, but said good progress had been made, reports the BBC's Kim Ghattas, who is travelling with the secretary of state. She said the aim remained to hand over responsibility for security to Iraqi forces.
"The negotiators have taken this very, very far towards an end agreement," said Ms Rice. "But there is no reason to believe that there is an agreement yet or that there is going to be today." "We are trying to put together an agreement that protects our people, that respects Iraqi sovereignty, that allows us to lay the kind of foundation that we need for making certain that we complete the work we've all sacrificed so greatly to see accomplished," she said.
"Ultimately, the prime minister has to make the call on moving forward." Mr Zebari said officials had hoped to conclude the negotiations earlier, but he cited internal political factors for the delay.
She added that any aspirational timeline for US troop withdrawal had to take into consideration the situation on the ground. "Really, we are very, very close to closing this agreement, and as we said from the beginning, there is no hidden agenda here," he said.
Any future agreement on the status of US troops in Iraq must be approved by the US president as well Mr Maliki and Iraq's parliament. "Time is of the essence, but, really, we are redoubling our efforts to bring this to a successful conclusion," he added.
Parliamentary approval Approval process
Ms Rice said she was visiting Baghdad to hear from Iraqi officials about concerns they may have on the long-term strategic framework agreement between the two countries. Earlier, Ms Rice said any aspirational timeline for a US troop withdrawal had to take into consideration the situation on the ground.
During her first visit to the country since March, Ms Rice will also hold talks with Iraq's vice-president and foreign minister, as well as senior US officials. Any future agreement on the status of US troops in Iraq must be approved by the US president as well as Mr Maliki and Iraq's parliament.
Other issues up for possible discussion include the status of some 20,000 prisoners held by US forces without charge and Iraqi electoral law. Other issues up for possible discussion included the status of some 20,000 prisoners held by US forces without charge and Iraqi electoral law.
A United Nations mandate for US troops to stay in Iraq expires in December.A United Nations mandate for US troops to stay in Iraq expires in December.
Iraqi officials have said they would like to see US forces end routine patrols of Iraqi towns by the middle of next year, and withdraw all combat troops in the next couple of years.Iraqi officials have said they would like to see US forces end routine patrols of Iraqi towns by the middle of next year, and withdraw all combat troops in the next couple of years.
There are currently around 147,000 US troops in Iraq.There are currently around 147,000 US troops in Iraq.