Iraqi Parliament seeks more compromise on security pact [View All]

[babylonsister]

Iraqi Parliament seeks more compromise on security pact

By Adam Ashton | McClatchy Newspapers


BAGHDAD — Iraq's Parliament postponed a pivotal vote on a U.S.-Iraq security agreement on Wednesday while key lawmakers sought compromises that would appease an alliance of Sunni parties.

The conditions in the pact, which would end the U.S. presence here by 2012, aren't up for debate.

Instead, members of parliament are trying to craft a companion measure that would persuade more political blocs to back the security agreement.

Sticking points include requests to review Iraq's de-Baathification policies that prevent members of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein's party from working in the government, and assurances that detainees held in U.S. custody without charges will be released unconditionally.

The security pact likely has enough pledged votes to pass without the Sunni alliance, but the government wants to present a strong majority for it to demonstrate national support for the agreement.

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