Iraq OKs non-U.S. troops until mid-2009

[unhappycamper]

Iraq OKs non-U.S. troops until mid-2009
By Qassim Abdul-Zahra - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Dec 23, 2008 21:18:12 EST

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s fractious parliament squeezed its abrasive speaker out of a job Tuesday and authorized non-U.S. foreign troops to stay in the country for another half-year, a pair of high-stakes moves in its final session of 2008.

The resignation of Sunni speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani capped a long-running power struggle with Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers and even members of his own party. Lawmakers applauded his announcement, quickly approved it, then passed a measure allowing Britain’s 4,000 troops and several smaller contingents from other countries to stay through July.

“I do believe that I was faithful to doing good work,” al-Mashhadani said in his address to the chamber where he often offended other lawmakers. “If I caused hurt to you, I ask your forgiveness.”

The authorization for foreign troops became entangled in al-Mashhadani’s quarrel with Kurdish and Shiite lawmakers last week, when he shouted insults at some of them and threatened to resign because “there is no honor in leading this parliament.”

His opponents ultimately forced him to keep his word. As a negotiating ploy, al-Mashhadani tried to delay until Jan. 7 the vote on the troops resolution — a week after the Dec. 31 expiration of the U.N. mandate authorizing the presence of foreign troops in Iraq.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_iraq_foreign_troops_122308/%2e