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US-Iraqi security agreement is now in the hands of Iraq’s Presidency Council which is due to take the final decision. However, will it enter into effect within the end of ten days without the presidency Council’s say? This would definitely raise further criticism mainly after the load of remarks noted on the deal reached with Americans.
In this context, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani announced that the popular referendum on the pact will be held on time and that Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki still enjoys the trust of political powers in the country and in Parliament.
Talabani urged the US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalil Zad of supporting the call to remove Iraq from UN Charter Chapter VII. Khalil Zad met as well with Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi in the presidential palace in Baghdad and discussed means to activate laws stipulated in the Status of Forces Agreement and the readiness of Iraqi security forces.
Moreover, Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi met with former US presidential candidate Republican Senator John McCain who made a surprise visit to Baghdad. Both officials discussed the Status of Forces agreement.
US elect President Barack Obama said he will appoint Robert Gates who will remain Defense Secretary a new mission to end Iraq war and hand over command to Iraqis. Obama stressed the necessity to withdraw US Forces from Iraq within the 16 coming months, yet, he said he will take the advice of the U US Military before taking any move.
As for the Status of Forces agreement signed with Baghdad, Obama said that the pact has eased the way to withdraw from Iraq.
As for Imposing Law Operation spokesman Brigadier Qassem Ata, he said that security forces in the Defense and Interior Ministries have signed contracts of arming with a number of countries independent from the US in order to upgrade their forces and increase their readiness before US Forces withdrawal in 2011. In an interview with the Newsmatic, Ata noted that security forces are trying in cooperation with multinational forces to be self independent weapons wise in aim to take command of their security within three years and protect their borders. Ata affirmed that these forces have proven their competence in taking over Baghdad security and other provinces stressing that violence marked in Baghdad lately does not point out to Iraqi Forces incompetence but to attempts of armed groups to mark their presence.
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