Iraqi Parliament accepts speaker’s resignation, allows non-U.S. troops into 2009

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani ended his chairmanship to the parliament by delivering a word during Tuesday’s session, which was closed by approving the controversial foreign troops withdrawal law. Parliament started its extraordinary session at 6:00 p.m. under Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who addressed the parliament’s chairmanship, asking it to accept his request to retire, which came as a surprise move, followed by another surprise when the parliament approved a resolution allowing thousands of British and other non-U.S. troops to stay into 2009. It allows about 4,000 British troops and smaller contingents from Australia , El Salvador , Estonia and Romania to remain until the end of July 2009. Al-Mashhadani expressed thanks to all parliamentarians. Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani tendered his resignation and it was accepted by a majority of the deputies attending a closed-door emergency session of the parliament after days of bickering and negotiations. SH (P)/SR 1