Talabani, SIIC chief discuss political developments

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani discussed with the Head of Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC) Abdulaziz al-Hakim the latest developments in Iraq and the security agreement between Baghdad and Washington . “Al-Hakim, who is also the head of the United Iraqi Alliance, received at his office in Baghdad President Talabani and discussed with him the latest political developments in Iraq,” the SIIC said in a statement on Tuesday night. “The meeting also dwelt on the agreement to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and debates on it at the parliament,” said the statement. The Iraqi cabinet endorsed the controversial pact, also known as the status-of-forces agreement (SOFA), by an overwhelming majority of 27 votes to 1. The Iraqi and U.S. sides have been negotiating a long-term security deal during the past months. The pact should determine the legal framework for the U.S. presence in Iraq after the end of this year, when the international mandate granted by the UN Security Council to the U.S. army to intervene in Iraq is due to expire  . SH (P) 1