"We welcome the Cabinet's approval of the agreement today," the U.S.
embassy said in a statement. "This is an important and positive step."
Iran and its supporters in parliament have opposed the agreement. The
opposition has warned that the security accord would enable U.S. troops to
remain indefinitely in Iraq.
"This agreement hands Iraq over [to the United States] on a golden
platter and for an indefinite period," Ahmed Al Massoudi, spokesman for the
30-seat pro-Iranian Sadrist bloc, said.
Proponents of the accord, including the defense and interior ministers,
argued that the U.S. military would be required to maintain internal and
external security in Iraq until 2012. They said the agreement would limit
freedom of action by American troops.
"The government wanted to make sure that the draft of the agreement
safeguards the interests of Iraq and its people, with clear and complete
timetables," Al Dabbagh said. "It is not the ideal solution for the Iraqi
side or the American side, but conditions on the ground dictated it."
