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Iraq Parliament Delays Vote on US Security Pact

Political bargaining forces postponement to tomorrow

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 26, 2008 10:42 AM CST

(AP) – Intense dealmaking among Iraq's political factions has delayed until tomorrow a parliamentary vote on the security pact that would allow American forces to stay in the country through 2011. The Shiite-led government is struggling to meet the demands of political blocs, including a large group of Sunni Arab lawmakers, seeking concessions in return for supporting the agreement.

The government's Shiite and Kurdish blocs, which hold a slight majority in parliament, have agreed to include a provision for a national referendum on the deal in 2009, as a concession to Sunni Arab legislators. If that happens, the deal could be approved by parliament, but torpedoed by a "no" vote in the referendum. The vote count tomorrow will be as important as the overall result because the country's most influential Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has indicated that the deal would be acceptable only if it passes by a wide margin.




US soldiers secure the area at the scene of a roadside bomb blast.
US soldiers secure the area at the scene of a roadside bomb blast.   (AP Photo)
A U.S. soldier leads an Iraqi man, who was detained at the scene of a roadside bomb blast.
A U.S. soldier leads an Iraqi man, who was detained at the scene of a roadside bomb blast.   (AP Photo)
People watch today's Iraqi parliament session in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.
People watch today's Iraqi parliament session in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.   (AP Photo)
Iraqi Parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, center, meets with political leaders.
Iraqi Parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, center, meets with political leaders.   (AP Photo)
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Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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