Aide: Iraq, US agree on final security pact draft

[November 15, 2008]  BAGHDAD (AP) -- A senior aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says Iraq and the U.S. are now in agreement over a final draft of a security pact.

The pact would allow American troops to stay in Iraq for three more years after their United Nations mandate expires Dec. 31.

He says copies of the agreement will be distributed to Cabinet members later Saturday after a final revision of the Arabic translation and could be put to a vote in an emergency meeting Sunday or Monday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, the aide says the agreement stands "a good chance" of being passed by a two-thirds majority in the 37-member Cabinet.

If adopted by the Cabinet, the agreement will be voted on in parliament.

[Associated Press; By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA]

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