We respect those who opposed the pact – PM

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday said that he respects those who opposed the Iraqi-U.S. security pact, passed earlier today by Iraq’s Parliament, noting that the pact is a step on the way to giving sovereignty back to Iraq. “We respect those who opposed the pact on a constitutional basis,” al-Maliki said in a televised speech that was broadcast by AL-IRAQIYA semi-official TV station. “We do not question their patriotic intentions,” he added. MH (P)/SR   1