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Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Iraq balks in talks over terms of U.S. military presence

BAGHDAD — Iraq has warned of a collapse of negotiations for a long-term military pact with the United States.

Officials said the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has refused U.S. demands of an indefinite military presence. They said Al Maliki has also rejected a U.S. clause that American soldiers would not be subject to Iraqi law.

"The negotiations are at a standstill, and the Iraqi side is studying its options," Iraqi parliamentarian Haidar Al Abadi, an ally of Al Maliki, said on Tuesday.

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Al Abadi, reading a statement issued by Al Maliki's Dawa Party, warned that Iraq and the United States disagree on nearly every point. The Shi'ite parliamentarian warned that the two sides would fail to reach agreement by a July deadline. The mandate by the United Nations Security for the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq expires in 2008.

"I don't think that we can meet this date," Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said. "There is a difference in viewpoints between Iraq and the United States. I don't think that time is enough to end this gap and to reach a joint understanding. Therefore, we are not committed to July as a deadline."

In 2007, Baghdad and Washington agreed in principle to a long-term American military presence in Iraq. The proposed military alliance was meant to keep the U.S. military in at least six Iraqi bases in an effort to ensure that neighboring Iran would not launch an invasion.

"The Americans have some demands that the Iraqi government regards as infringing on its sovereignty," Al Abadi said. "This is the main dispute, and if the dispute is not settled, I frankly tell you there will not be an agreement."

Since then, officials said, Iraq has sought to limit the extent and period of the U.S. military presence. Baghdad has also demanded payment for the U.S. use of Iraqi bases.

"Almost all American suggestions were countered by different Iraqi ones," Al Abadi said.

U.S. officials have acknowledged a significant gap between the Iraqi and American positions. They said the Bush administration has conceded on many of the Iraqi demands.

The Dawa statement came in wake of a meeting between Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and State Department adviser on Iraq, David Satterfield. Zebari issued a statement that pledged Iraq's commitment to conclude negotiations before the expiration of the UN mandate.

"The parties discussed efforts to ensure Iraq's rights and its full sovereignty," Zebari said.



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