Iraq parliament passes landmark US security pact

Iraq's parliament approved a security accord with the US today that provides for the withdrawal of American forces by the end…

Iraq's parliament approved a security accord with the US today that provides for the withdrawal of American forces by the end of 2011.

The Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, was backed by 149 members in the 275-member assembly in Baghdad.

Today's vote was televised live by international broadcasters including al- Arabiya. Iraq's political leaders pushed to get overwhelming support in parliament for the agreement, delaying the vote yesterday.

Iraqi leaders have been negotiating the pact for 11 months and said they obtained a number of concessions.

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The accord with the US has already been approved by the Bush administration.

The Status of Forces Agreement, the title of such accords the US has with countries hosting its troops, will replace a United Nations mandate governing the American presence in Iraq, which expires Dec. 31.

The Iraq SOFA calls for US troops to pull back from towns and cities by the middle of 2009, and to leave the country by the end of 2011.

The accord also curbs US powers to detain Iraqi citizens and conduct military operations. US President-elect Barack Obama said he will make 'tactical adjustments' as he implements a troop withdrawal within 16 months of taking office on Jan. 20 and pledged to "consult with commanders on the ground and the Iraqi government" as he does so.

Bloomberg