PM discusses SOFA activation with Crocker, Odierno

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki discussed with U.S. ambassador in Baghdad Ryan Crocker and General Raymond Odierno, the current Commanding General of the Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I), means to start activating the security pact. “Maliki received Crocker and Odierno and deliberated the initial steps to start activating the long-term security agreement between Iraq and the United States, to take its legal shape after the Presidential Board (PB) endorses it,” according to a statement by Maliki’s office as received by IraqiNews.com. The Iraqi parliament on Thursday had approved with a majority of 149 votes to 35 the security pact between Baghdad and Washington, also known as the status of forces agreement (SOFA). The 35 votes that rejected the agreement were those of the Sadrist bloc, or members of parliament loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, plus six others who considered SOFA as undermining the sovereignty of Iraq. The statement also affirmed that the meeting took up means to bring Iraq out of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the issue of detainees, the posts occupied by the U.S. army, central Baghdad’s heavily-fortified green zone and the air space. AmR (P) 1