Talabani says U.S. offers good concessions on security agreement

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Thursday said the U.S. has offered good concessions on the security agreement, noting he is confident the U.S. and Iraq will reach an agreement because it is necessary for the country’s development. President Jalal Talabani told state television al-Iraqia that the agreement will ensure the country’s economic stability and enable Iraqi security forces to develop. He said there is a mutual desire to reach a solution and sign the agreement. The two countries have been negotiating an agreement for most of this year to replace a U.N. mandate that expires at the end of the year. At least two major issues are standing in the way of a deal. One is who would prosecute American soldiers accused of crimes and whether the agreement would include a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal. SH (P) 1