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Iraq
'SOFA stands in way of powerful Iraq'
2008-10-23
Iran says the US-proposed Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq would never allow the establishment of a sovereign Iraqi government.
Only Iranian domination would allow that ...
Iranian Parliament speaker Ali Larijani on Wednesday hit out at the US-sought security deal with Iraq, saying it impinged on the country's sovereignty. "This encroaches on the sovereignty (of Iraq), and will not allow the establishment of a strong government," he said during a visit to Bahrain.

The Iranian official's remarks came after the Pentagon accused Iran of stalling Washington-Baghdad negotiations on the security deal. "Iranian meddling in Iraq takes on all forms" including "an attempt by the Iranians to undermine, undercut, derail the SOFA (status of forces) agreement," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Wednesday.

Washington seeks to finalize the controversial deal with Iraq to give a legal basis to its military and political presence in the oil-rich country before its UN mandate expires on December 31. The deal, however, has yet to be finalized due to widespread opposition by Iraq's religious and political figures.

One of the hotly disputed issues on the agreement is that it grants immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts to US forces who commit crimes inside the agreed facilities and areas owned by the government of Iraq but used by US forces.
Posted by:Fred

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