No security deal with UK at hand
Iraq has ruled out the possibility of signing any agreement with Britain before the finalization of a security deal with the United States.
“Al-Maliki told the British side that Iraq will discuss the matter after finalizing the agreement with the US,” Haydar al-Abadi, a Parliamentarian from the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) told the Voices of Iraq news agency.
Maliki has called for the withdrawal of British combat troops from the country after their UN mandate expires at the end of 2008.
“The Iraqi vision highlights that there is no need for the presence of British forces in Iraq after the end of their authorization by the end of 2008,” Abadi added.
Iraq is still faced with a dilemma over the long-term presence of US forces in the country. While Washington is pushing hard for signing a controversial agreement with Baghdad to provide a legal basis for its military presence inside the war-ravaged country, political and religious figures call for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq as soon as possible.
At first, the US expected that it could easily clinch the agreement thanks to the news blackout imposed on the media, but the deal was faced with hurdles and turned into a thorny issue after it was disclosed that the agreement would grant immunity from legal prosecution to US citizens.
The deal must be endorsed by the Iraqi National Assembly before it comes into effect.
The Iraqi cabinet has asked the US to amend the latest draft of the deal and a majority of lawmakers from both Sunni and Shia are also opposed to the deal.
Washington, however, has warned Baghdad of “dire consequences” if it rejects the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
Reports circulated by the local media claimed that US Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte had even threatened to topple the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki if he refused to sign the deal.
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