CURRENT NEWS ITEM: IRAQ'S PRIME MINISTER DEFENDS U.S. SECURITY PACT IN PUBLIC ADDRESS

TOP - 50 RELEVANT BREAKING NEWS

1. Iraq's Prime Minister Defends U.S. Security Pact in Public Address

   BAGHDAD, Nov. 18 -- Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addressed the nation Tuesday to defend a security pact that would let U.S. troops stay in Iraq three more years and expressed concern that some lawmakers were trying to block it for political reasons.

2. Iraq prime minister backs security pact

   Until now he had not publicly backed the deal to extend a U.S. mandate. His support comes after U.S. accepts two conditions: that troops leave Iraqi cities by June 2009 and the country by the end of 2011. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has agreed to support a contentious security agreement with the United States and plans to urge his Cabinet to back the recently revised pact, two senior Shiite Muslim officials said Friday.

3. Iraq's Maliki defends security pact

   The revised plan calls for complete U.S. troop withdrawal by the end of 2011. Parliament factions who want immediate withdrawal and more U.S. concessions have doubts about the plan. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki went on national television today to defend a divisive pact giving U.S. forces three more years on the ground in his nation as opponents reacted coolly to the plan, which is expected to go before parliament Wednesday.

4. Iraq's prime minister, president in public quarrel

   BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraq's presidential council has taken the unusual step of publicly criticizing the Shiite prime minister after he berated them for their opposition to councils of loyal tribesmen in several Iraqi provinces....

5. Iraqi Prime Minister Visits Iran to Discuss U.S.-Iraq Pact

   Iraq's prime minister is visiting Iran where the newly implemented security deal between the United States and Baghdad is expected to top his agenda.

6. Iran Interfering in U.S.-Iraq Security Pact, General Says

   BAGHDAD, Oct. 12 -- The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said Sunday that American intelligence reports suggest Iran has attempted to bribe Iraqi lawmakers in an effort to derail a bilateral agreement that would allow U.S. troops to remain in Iraq after the end of this year.

7. Iraq reports progress on security pact

   Iraqi negotiators believe they have reached an accord on a draft security pact governing the conduct of U.S. forces in Iraq, which includes a timeline for American troop withdrawal.

8. Sources: U.S., Iraq Take Security Pact to Leaders

   The draft calls for U.S. troops to pull out of Iraqi cities by the end of June next year and leave Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011, unless the Baghdad government asks them to stay

9. Iraq Inches Closer to Security Pact With U.S.

   The draft of the agreement includes a previously discussed timeline for the withdrawal of American troops, with troops moving out of Iraq by next summer.

10. IRAQ: US-Iraqi security pact one step closer

    Baghdad and Washington are close to finalising a pact outlining the conditions of a future US military presence in Iraq after the current UN resolution finishes at the end of the year.

11. IRAQ: Robert Gates approves US-Iraqi security pact

    US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has approved a pact drafted by Baghdad and Washington, outlining the conditions of a future US military presence in Iraq after the current UN resolution finishes at the end of the year.

12. IRAQ: Iraqi leaders express reservations on US-Iraq security pact

    Parliamentary faction leaders from the Iraqi political council for security failed to endorse a security pact with the US after a meeting on Sunday, saying that "some points need more discussion and amendments".

13. Iraq sends draft of U.S. security pact to Cabinet

    Shiite officials say they still want revisions to the language of the document, which requires U.S. forces to leave Iraq by the end of 2011 unless they are asked to stay on. Iraqi political leaders met Sunday and forwarded a U.S.-Iraq security pact to the Cabinet for discussion without endorsing the agreement, which concerns the length of time American troops can remain in Iraq.

14. Iraq Cabinet seeks changes to US security pact

    BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraq's Cabinet decided Tuesday to ask the Americans for unspecified changes in the draft security pact that would allow U.S. troops to remain here another three years, despite warnings that it would be hard to reopen negotiations on the agreement....

15. IRAQ: Iraq cabinet unanimous for changes in security pact

    Iraq's cabinet on Tuesday unanimously decided to modify a security pact with the US, despite warnings from the US that Iraq risked serious security losses unless it approved the deal.

16. Iraq Wants Changes Made To Security Pact

    Iraq's Cabinet decided to ask the Americans for unspecified changes in the draft security pact that would allow U.S. troops to remain here another three years, despite warnings that it would be hard to reopen negotiations on the agreement.

17. Iraq Cabinet seeks changes in security pact with U.S.

    With the U.N. mandate governing troops in Iraq running out in a few months, Iraqi ministers are set to debate alterations to a proposed U.S.-Iraq pact. Iraq's Cabinet asked for changes to a draft U.S.-Iraqi security agreement Tuesday, once more casting doubt on the document's speedy passage, less than three months before the U.N. mandate authorizing the presence of American troops in the country is to expire.

18. Doubts on Iraq Security Pact Revives Focus on U.N.

    Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, told reporters that his country would support allowing U.S. troops to stay in Iraq under a United Nations mandate.

19. IRAQ: Iraq says will not be bullied into signing US security pact

    Iraq's Foreign minister said that the US has agreed to hear proposed changes to a security pact between the nations. The pact has been delayed by Iraq's objection to the wording of the pact.

20. Iraq Security Pact Highlights Battle Between U.S., Iran

    BAGHDAD, Oct. 27 -- A deal to authorize the presence of American forces in Iraq beyond 2008 is forcing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to choose between two influential powers in this country: the United States and Iran.

21. Iraq to Reopen Security Pact Talks With U.S.

    Iraqi Cabinet authorizes Prime Minister al-Maliki to reopen talks with U.S. on security pact.

22. Iraq Asks to Reopen Security Pact Talks With U.S.

    Iraq's government decided Tuesday to formally ask the United States to reopen negotiations on a proposed deal to keep American troops here past the end of the year. The U.S. suggested it may not be ready to offer more concessions.

23. Iraq Seeks Changes to Security Pact

    BAGHDAD, Oct. 28 -- The Iraqi cabinet decided Tuesday to reopen negotiations on a security pact intended to give U.S. forces the legal authority to stay in the country beyond Dec. 31, further delaying an agreement that American officials had hoped to conclude by now.

24. Iraq Outlines Security Pact Changes

    Iraq wants a security agreement with the U.S. to include a clear ban on U.S. troops using Iraqi territory to attack Iraq's neighbors, the government spokesman said, three days after a dramatic U.S. raid on Syria.

25. IRAQ: Deadline looms for agreement on security pact

    US officials have warned that the window for agreeing on a security pact with Iraq is drawing to a close as Washington continues to examine amendments put forward by Baghdad.

26. U.S. Gives Iraq 'Final Text' of Security Pact

    The U.S. has given Iraq the "final text" of a security pact that determines how long U.S. forces will be allowed to stay in the country, Reuters reported Thursday.

27. Iraq Dismisses New Security Pact Offer as 'Not Enough'

    Iraq's government spokesman says the U.S. offers of changes in the draft security agreement were 'not enough.'

28. Iraq's Maliki to urge his Cabinet to endorse security pact with U.S.

    One of the prime minister's trusted confidants says Maliki is ready to publicly endorse the bilateral agreement. If approved, it would call for American troops to leave the country at the end of 2011. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki will urge his Cabinet to endorse a contentious security agreement with the United States and will give an address backing the pact ahead of a vote in parliament, one of his trusted confidants said today.

29. Iraq: Negotiators agree on US security pact draft

    BAGHDAD (AP) -- U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have agreed on a draft of a security pact that would allow American troops to stay in Iraq for three more years after their U.N. mandate expires Dec. 31, a senior aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday....

30. Aide: Iraq, U.S. Agree on Final Draft of Security Pact

    U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have agreed on a draft of a security pact that would allow American troops to stay in Iraq for three more years, after their U.N. mandate expires Dec. 31, a senior aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday.