Iraq’s VP, Rice review security agreement

Iraq-Agreement BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi discussed with U.S. Secretary General Condoleezza Rice the security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, a presidential statement said on Thursday. “The vice president received late on Wednesday a phone call from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during which they discussed the security agreement between the two countries and means of rendering the ongoing talks a success,” said the statement received by IraqiNews.com. “The two also tackled the latest security and political developments in Iraq,” it added. American and Iraqi negotiators have been working for most of this year to hammer out an agreement setting down rules for the U.S. military mission beginning next year. The major obstacle has been jurisdiction over U.S. troops. The United States had demanded exclusive right to prosecute U.S. troops for offenses committed here. The Iraqis had insisted on the right to try Americans – at least in offenses committed off American bases. SH (P)/SR 1