VP says any decision about security pact will be in consensus

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said that the executive council’s leaders have agreed that any decision about the security deal with the U.S. will be in consensus, according to a statement released from al-Hashemi’s office on Friday. “The main point the executive council has agreed on during the meeting on Thursday night at President Jalal Talabani’s residence that any decision Iraq will take regarding the pact will be based on national consensus,” the statement quoted al-Hashemi as saying. “Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki explained the amendments the cabinet made on the security agreement,” the statement added. For nearly two weeks, Iraqi politicians have been considering the draft agreement, which would keep U.S. troops in Iraq through 2011 unless both sides agree that they could stay longer. The draft would also give the Iraqis a greater role in supervising U.S. military operations and allow Iraqi courts to try U.S. soldiers and contractors accused of major crimes off duty and off base. But critics say the draft, reached after months of tough negotiations, does not go far enough in protecting Iraqi sovereignty. The U.S. has suggested it may not be ready to accept changes. The agreement must be approved by the end of the year when the current U.N. mandate expires or the U.S. military would have to suspend all operations in Iraq . SH (S) 1