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Iraq 'seeking to amend US deal' Iraq 'seeking to amend US deal'
(10 minutes later)
Iraq's cabinet is demanding changes to a draft agreement with Washington that would allow US forces to stay until 2011, a government spokesman has said.Iraq's cabinet is demanding changes to a draft agreement with Washington that would allow US forces to stay until 2011, a government spokesman has said.
"The cabinet have agreed that necessary amendments to the pact could make it nationally accepted," Ali Dabbagh said."The cabinet have agreed that necessary amendments to the pact could make it nationally accepted," Ali Dabbagh said.
The draft was presented last week after months of painstaking talks between the US and Iraqi governments.The draft was presented last week after months of painstaking talks between the US and Iraqi governments.
US officials have not said if they are willing to renegotiate the Status of Forces Agreement, as it is known.US officials have not said if they are willing to renegotiate the Status of Forces Agreement, as it is known.
Mr Dabbagh said ministers would continue meeting over the coming days to "give their opinions and consult and provide the amendments suggested".
The amended version would then be given to the US negotiating team, he said.
The cabinet must approve the draft before it can be sent to parliament for a vote.The cabinet must approve the draft before it can be sent to parliament for a vote.
But apart from the two main Kurdish parties, political leaders have so far withheld their support for the deal.But apart from the two main Kurdish parties, political leaders have so far withheld their support for the deal.
Immunity for US military personnel and contractors is thought to be one of the key sticking points, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from in Baghdad.Immunity for US military personnel and contractors is thought to be one of the key sticking points, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from in Baghdad.
The pact is said to grant Iraqi judicial authorities limited ability to try US troops and contractors for major crimes committed off-duty or off-base - and only then if a joint US-Iraqi committee agrees.The pact is said to grant Iraqi judicial authorities limited ability to try US troops and contractors for major crimes committed off-duty or off-base - and only then if a joint US-Iraqi committee agrees.
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.