Iraq-US talks on relations have reached 'a dead end'

MIDDLE EAST:PRIME MINISTER Nuri al-Maliki said yesterday that negotiations on initial US texts defining long-term Iraqi-US relations were at a dead end.

"We have reached a dead end because when we started the talks, we found that the US demands hugely infringe on the sovereignty of Iraq, and this we can never accept," Mr Maliki said during a visit to Jordan.

His government could not allow US forces to detain Iraqis, conduct military operations without Iraqi approval, or enjoy full freedom of Iraq's skies, land and waters. "One of the important issues that the US is asking for is [legal] immunity for its soldiers and contractors. We reject this totally."

However, he added that the sides have started over and will seek agreements, whether they be "A, B or C."

His remarks constitute his first detailed comments on two documents Iraqi and US teams have been discussing since January.

The first is a status of forces agreement which will provide a legal basis for the US military presence, including the granting of permanent bases, after December 31st, when the UN mandate expires. The second is a strategic framework dealing with political, economic, security, cultural and diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Jalaleddin al-Saghir, a deputy from the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), said the terms put forward by the US were "more abominable than the Security Council's occupation order . . . now we are being asked to sign for our own occupation". SIIC, the second largest Shia faction in parliament, is Mr Maliki's coalition partner. His other partner, the Kurdish bloc, is the sole supporter of US demands.

Foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, criticised legislators for poisoning public debate while the agreements were being drafted in secret.

The largest parliamentary faction, followers of dissident Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, has been holding Friday protests against the pacts and is calling for a referendum to decide their fate.

In response to Mr Maliki's comments, the US embassy spokesman in Baghdad said: "Talks are ongoing. We respect Iraq's sovereignty and that's the basis of the negotiations."