Iraqi parliament leaves troop issue unsettled

Iraqi parliament leaves troop issue unsettled
By Qassim Abdul-Zahra - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Dec 22, 2008 16:16:51 EST

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s parliament on Monday adjourned for the day without voting on a resolution to allow non-U.S. troops to remain in the country past the end of the year.

Parliament had been expected to consider the measure Monday but instead became embroiled in an attempt to unseat speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. It was unclear when parliament would vote on the measure; it is expected to close Wednesday for Christmas and the ensuing weekend.

Al-Mashhadani last week said he was resigning in the midst of a dispute over the detention of a journalist who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush. Al-Mashhadani is a Sunni. Kurdish and Shiite lawmakers called an emergency session Monday at which they aimed to fire him.

The session was held behind closed doors and details were not immediately available, but shouting could be heard from within the chamber.

If the resolution is not passed before a U.N. mandate expires Dec. 31, non-U.S. troops — including 4,000 from Britain — would have no legal grounds to remain in Iraq. U.S. troops can remain until the end of 2011 under a separate agreement reached this year.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_iraq_troops_122208/%2e