U.S. officials do not rule out renegotiating Iraqis on security pact-CNN

BAGHDAD/IraqiNews.com: U.S. official on Tuesday said they did not rule out renegotiating with Iraqis over the sticking issues in the security pact between the two countries, CNN reported. Senior U.S. officials-speaking under the condition of anonymity-are not ruling out possibly renegotiating parts of the deal with Iraq if the country’s parliament does not approve it,” U.S.CNN TV channel highlighted. “Senior U.S. officials — speaking under the condition of anonymity — are not ruling out possibly renegotiating parts of the deal with Iraq if the country’s parliament does not approve it. Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the Iraqi government approved several amendments that were “necessary, essential and appropriate” to the draft status-of-forces agreement, which would set the terms for U.S. troops in Iraq after the United Nations mandate on their presence expires at the end of this year. “The Iraqi government authorizes the prime minister to bring up these amendments to the U.S. side in order to reach a draft agreement that will preserve the fundamental principles and the sovereignty of Iraq and its high interests,” the CNN quoted al-Dabbagh as saying. It is unclear when PM Nouri al-Maliki will submit the changes to the draft document. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently said that there was “great reluctance” to make any more changes to the agreement.