Talks between U.S. and Iraq on a security agreement governing the U.S. presence in the Arab country have reached their final stage, according to the Iraqi deputy prime minister, Barham Salih.
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At a press conference last night broadcast today by the independent Iraqi news agency "Asuat to Iraq" (Voices of Iraq), Saleh explained that his government hopes "very soon reach a formula to end the agreement."
"Negotiations have reached the final straight. We still expect the U.S. response on some objections and clarifications regarding the proposed pact," added Salih, one of the leaders of the Kurdish Alliance.
Over the past four months, Iraqi and American representatives have held intensive discussions to lay the legal basis on the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq, after the expiration of the mandate given by the Council of the UN Security next December 31.
The immunity of U.S. troops inside Iraqi territory is one of the thorniest issues in negotiations.
United States insists that its soldiers should not appear in any case before the Iraqi justice, a point which does not share the Baghdad regime.
