Troop withdrawal dates confirmed in joint statement

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi government on Monday released the text of a joint U.S.-Iraqi statement confirming the dates set for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country. On November 17, Iraq and the United States signed the Security Agreement and the Strategic Framework Agreement. “The two pacts will come into effect on January 1, 2009, in accordance with Article 30 D of the first agreement and Section XI of the second agreement,” according to the statement that was received by IraqiNews.com. On Sunday, Bush arrived on a surprise visit to the capital Baghdad and met with the Iraqi president, prime minister and other officials. 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)/SR 1