"Dead end" reached in US-Iraq talks
US-Iraqi relations have never been entirely smooth
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Friday, 13, Jun 2008 02:58
Iraq's government is struggling to reach agreement on the continued presence of US forces in the Middle East country.
American soldiers led the international coalition which ousted Saddam Hussein from power in spring 2003 and have led the struggle for security against insurgents and religious infighting since then.
The UN mandate for coalition forces in Iraq expires on December 31st this year and agreement must be reached with the Baghdad government before then if they are to continue there.
Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki told journalists today talks have reached a "dead end" because the US demands "hugely infringe on the sovereignty of Iraq".
"We can't extend the US forces permission to arrest Iraqis or to undertake terror fighting in an independent way, or to keep Iraqi skies and waters open for themselves whenever they want," the Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.
"One of the important issues that the US is asking for is immunity for its soldiers and those contracting with it. We reject this totally."
The ongoing presence of US troops in Iraq is expected to be a major issue in the upcoming presidential election. Democrat candidate Barack Obama backs his party's calls for troop withdrawals, which have been thwarted by current president George Bush in recent years.