Parliament rejects law allowing British forces to stay in Iraq

Published on Saturday 20 December 2008 18:37

IRAQ'S parliament yesterday rejected for a second time a draft law allowing foreign troops from countries other than the United States, including Britain, to remain after the end of the year.

The draft law, which was rejected in a voice vote, would allow all foreign troops other than Americans to stay in Iraq until the end of July. It was drafted by the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

It was also rejected earlier in the week and is expected to be brought for another vote after Christmas – when it is expected to be approved in the third and final reading.

"What the parliament did today, rejecting the bill, was a great national achievement," said Nassir al-Issawi, a lawmaker loyal to anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who wants an immediate end to what he sees as a foreign occupation.

"We believe that British forces and all other forces should pack their things," said al-Issawi.

A separate agreement approved by the Iraqi government on December 4 allows the US to retain troops in the country until the end of 2011. That agreement, which takes effect on January 1, gives Iraq strict oversight over the nearly 150,000 American troops now in the country.

Gordon Brown last week announced British troops would leave the country by the end of July next year.

Last night the Ministry of Defence said it would hold talks with the Iraqi government. An MoD statement said: "As the Prime Minister announced to Parliament last Thursday, Prime Minister Maliki confirmed to him in Baghdad on Wednesday that the government of Iraq wants UK forces to remain in Iraq to complete their military tasks by May 31, 2009, at the latest."

The draft law was rejected because MPs objected to it being in the form of legislation, rather than an agreement as was the deal Iraq signed with the US, said Hussein al-Falluji, of the Sunni Accordance Front.

"Legally relations between two countries cannot be organised by a law. They should be arranged according to international law, through treaties or agreements," said al-Falluji.

"For this reason parliament rejected this law. It was a big mistake by the government."

Britain has 4,000 troops in Iraq. After the December 31 expiration of the UN mandate authorising military operations in Iraq, the only coalition troops to remain will be the US, Britain, Australia, El Salvador, Estonia and Romania.

Australia has the largest force among the last four countries, with 1,000 troops, followed by Romania with 501, El Salvador with 200 and Estonia with 40.

The US military announced yesterday it had arrested an Iraqi man "who is allegedly a commander of Iranian special operations in Iraq".

The arrest took place on Friday just north of Baghdad and the military said he was "also believed to be involved in facilitating the training of Iraqi militants" at camps.