Iraq OKs non-U.S. forces bill as Speaker steps down
The Iraqi parliament has approved a resolution allowing thousands of British and other non-U.S. forces to stay into 2009. A vast majority of the 223 MPs in attendance voted to approve the resolution, a parliamentary source told AFP.
It allows some 4,000 British soldiers and smaller contingents from Australia, El Salvador, Estonia and Romania to remain until the end of July 2009. "This project got a majority of votes. We authorize the government to take all necessary steps regarding foreign forces other than U.S. forces," deputy parliamentary speaker Khalid al-Attiya told Reuters.
According to the AP, the approval by voice vote came moments after the resignation Tuesday of Sunni Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. He told lawmakers in behind-the-scenes negotiations that in return for his resignation he wants to be named head of a human-rights association, Shiite lawmaker Reda Jawad Taqi told The Associated Press.