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Iraq seeks to change troop deal Iraq seeks to change troop deal
(about 3 hours later)
Iraq's ruling coalition says it wants to make changes to a draft long-term security pact with the US. The dominant Shia alliance in Iraq's government says it wants to change the outline of a security pact with the US.
American and Iraqi officials had previously said the draft agreement was final and would not be changed. American and Iraqi officials said earlier the draft pact was final and would not be changed.
The deal would allow US forces to stay in Iraq until 2011 and grant Iraq limited authority to prosecute troops. The deal would allow US forces to stay in Iraq until 2011 and allow Iraq limited authority to prosecute troops.
The agreement has been the subject of negotiations for months and must be approved by Iraq's parliament by the end of the year. The agreement has been the subject of negotiations for months and must be approved by Iraq's parliament, something that remains uncertain.
Parliamentary approval is expected to be more likely if the deal is rubber-stamped by Iraq's Political Council for National Security.Parliamentary approval is expected to be more likely if the deal is rubber-stamped by Iraq's Political Council for National Security.
The council - composed of top political leaders and the heads of parliamentary factions - met on Friday and is expected to meet again soon to hear from military figures.The council - composed of top political leaders and the heads of parliamentary factions - met on Friday and is expected to meet again soon to hear from military figures.
In a statement released on Sunday, the ruling United Iraqi Alliance - the coalition which includes the party of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki - praised some elements of the draft but said others needed more work. Prosecution fears
Correspondents say it is significant that the bloc containing Mr Maliki's own party is publicly calling for changes. Despite US and Iraqi political leaders describing the deal - the product of months of negotiations between Baghdad and Washington - as "final", the main Shia group in the ruling Shia Muslim-Kurdish coalition has now cast doubt on the agreement. I am extremely proud of what our forces have achieved John Hutton UK Defence Secretary class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7678467.stm">UK and Iraq to begin troop talks
On Saturday, an estimated 50,000 supporters of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr marched in Baghdad to call for US troops to leave Iraq. "Besides the positive points that were included in this pact, there are other points that need more time, more discussion, more dialogue and amendments to some articles," the United Iraqi Alliance said in a statement.
The UN mandate for US-led coalition forces expires at the end of this year. About 144,000 of the 152,000 foreign troops deployed there are US military personnel. The alliance, which includes the Dawa party of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, is reported to have reservations about seven elements of the deal, although details have not yet been made clear.
The BBC's Jim Muir, in Baghdad, says the issue of immunity from prosecution for US troops is thought to be one of the key sticking points.
There are also concerns about the provisional date of 2009 set for US withdrawals from Iraqi cities, and the date of 2011 for withdrawing from Iraq as a whole, our correspondent says.
The streets of Baghdad were busy with protesters on Saturday
On Saturday an estimated 50,000 supporters of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr marched in Baghdad to call for US troops to leave Iraq.
But our correspondent says it is not yet clear if the alliance's concerns amount to a serious challenge to the agreement.
The draft in its current form was agreed after lengthy negotiations between Baghdad and Washington, and the US is thought to see the deal as a "take it or leave it" package.
The current UN mandate for US-led coalition forces expires at the end of this year. About 144,000 of the 152,000 foreign troops deployed there are US military personnel.