IIP denies “arm-twisting” over SOFA

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) on Monday denied the use of “arm-twisting” tactics with the government to prevent the passage of the U.S. troop withdrawal agreement. The party’s representatives in the Parliament have clearly expressed “its reserved stance on the agreement because of the existence of some clauses that pose a threat to Iraq’s future, including those related to the U.S. forces and the internal situation in Iraq,” according to a party statement received by IraqiNews.com. The Iraqi cabinet has endorsed a controversial security pact with the United States, 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) 1