Bush, Maliki to sign official document on withdrawal dates

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will sign an official document confirming the dates set for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country, an informed source said on Sunday. The document is likely to be signed within less than an hour, a source close to the Iraqi government told IraqiNews.com. Bush had held a four-hour meeting with the Iraqi Presidential Board and the head of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) before heading for another meeting with the Iraqi premier to sign the troop withdrawal agreement. Earlier today, Bush arrived on a surprise visit to the capital Baghdad and met with President Jalal al-Talabani. Bush’s visit comes only 17 days ahead of the beginning of the implementation of the long-term security pact with Iraq, known as the status of forces agreement (SOFA), scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2009. On November 27, the Iraqi Parliament approved SOFA with a majority of 144 votes to 35 lawmakers, 29 of them are members of parliament from the Sadrist bloc of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr. SS (P) 1