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Iraq seeks to change troop deal New bid to seal Iraq troop deal
(about 5 hours later)
The dominant Shia alliance in Iraq's government says it wants to change the outline of a security pact with the US. Political leaders in Iraq have held a late night session to discuss a draft security pact with the US.
American and Iraqi officials said earlier the draft pact was final and would not be changed. The Political Council for National Security met hours after the country's dominant alliance of Shia parties said it would seek changes to the plan.
The deal would allow US forces to stay in Iraq until 2011 and allow 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.
American and Iraqi officials have previously said the draft pact was final and would not be changed.
The agreement has been the subject of negotiations for months and must be approved by Iraq's parliament, something that remains uncertain.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. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has postponed a planned trip to Australia to allow him to continue the discussions.
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. Parliamentary approval is expected to be more likely if the deal is rubber-stamped by the Political Council for National Security. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7675725.stm">Dissent in Iraq at accord with US
The council - composed of top political leaders and the heads of parliamentary factions - was scheduled to hear from military figures.
The Reuters news agency reported that the council failed to reach a decision. Council members were hesitant to approve or reject it, a government spokesman told the agency.
Prosecution fearsProsecution fears
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 Despite US and Iraqi political leaders describing the deal - the product of months of negotiations between Baghdad and Washington - as "final", the concerns of the main Shia group in the ruling Shia Muslim-Kurdish coalition have cast doubt on the agreement.The streets of Baghdad were busy with protesters on Saturday
"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."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 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 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.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.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 in opposition to the deal and to call for US troops to leave Iraq.
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.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 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.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.