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Mon 10 Oct 2008Iraqi leaders hold off on approving US pact
IRAQI POLITICAL leaders meeting yesterday took no decision to approve a pact allowing US troops to stay for three years, and many expressed reservations about it, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said. "They just finished the meeting and they did not take a decision on the pact because some groups had reservations," Mr Dabbagh said last night.
On Saturday 50,000 Iraqis had marched into central Baghdad to demand an early withdrawal of US troops and condemn the proposed US-Iraqi security agreement. While the majority of the demonstrators were Shias who rallied to the call of dissident cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Sunnis and Christians also took part and joined in the chant, "No, no, to America."
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