INL urges blocs to vote to approve U.S. pact

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi National List (INL) called on political blocs to vote to approve the U.S. troop withdrawal agreement, considering it as ‘inevitable’. “The INL called on the parliamentary blocs to vote to approve the U.S. pact and to favor the national interest,” MP Kher Allah al-Basri said at a press conference, attended by IraqiNews.com. He said that voting on the agreement is inevitable, noting that in case this agreement was not signed, Iraq will be a second Somalia. 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. The parliament will hold a session today to vote on the agreement. SH (P) 1