Absolute majority vote on SOFA- MP

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: An Iraqi parliamentarian from the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) on Sunday said that an absolute majority vote, rather than a two-thirds majority vote, will be required to pass the controversial security agreement with the United States. “The agreement is on the way to a vote after the second reading has been completed…The Presidential Board may vote on it tomorrow or the day after if debate is complete,” MP Qassem Dawoud told IraqiNews.com. The Iraqi cabinet has endorsed a controversial security 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 throughout the past months. The pact should determine the legal framework for U.S. troop presence when a UN mandate expires at the end of 2008. SS (P)/SR 1