UIA stresses pro-stance on SOFA

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) has confirmed its positive stance on the U.S. security pact, saying that it safeguards Iraq’s national sovereignty. “The alliance yesterday held an important meeting with the participation of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, during which it stressed its unified stance on the U.S. troop withdrawal agreement,” according to a statement published on the official web site of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) The Shiite UIA is the largest political bloc with 83 seats in the 275-member Parliament. 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