Security Accord Approved In Iraq

"Two years ago, this day seemed unlikely -- but the success of the surge and the courage of the Iraqi people set the conditions for these two agreements to be negotiated and approved by the Iraqi parliament," Bush said. The agreements, he said, "serve as a testament to the Iraqi, Coalition, and American men and women, both military and civilian, who paved the way for this day." Bush said he was looking forward to "swift approval" by the presidency council.

The pact includes two documents: a status-of-forces agreement governing the rules under which U.S. troops will operate; and a wide-ranging strategic framework agreement that governs cooperation in politics, economics, culture and other fields.

The lawmakers also approved a nonbinding resolution to address long-standing Sunni grievances and those of other minorities, and voted in favor of holding a national referendum on the security agreement, scheduled for July.

If Iraq's voters were to reject the agreement, the Iraqi government would be required to give notice for U.S. troops to pull out in July 2010, 18 months ahead of the deadline outlined in the pact. But it remains to be seen whether the referendum will take place: Several mandated referendums, including one over the status of the disputed oil-rich city of Kirkuk, have been deferred beyond legal deadlines.

As lawmakers read out the agreement in parliament, loyalists of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr banged folders on tables and waved placards that read: "No, No Agreement." Others chanted: -- "Yes, yes Iraq. No, no agreement."

But the lawmakers reading the pact spoke louder into their microphones, drowning out the Sadrists.

Sadr has long opposed the presence of U.S. troops. In recent months, his followers have staged demonstrations against the security pact; he has vowed to launch attacks on American troops if the agreement is approved. All 30 members of his bloc were among those who voted against the agreement.

"The agreement legitimizes the occupation," said Aqeel Hussein, a Sadrist lawmaker. "But our people will not accept the occupation to continue. We shall use all means and legal and constitutional methods to make up for the injuries and damages resulting from this agreement on the Iraqi people."

Members of the Fadhila Party, a Shiite ultra-religious party, boycotted the vote.

"We did not vote because we are not satisfied that there are enough guarantees for Iraq through this agreement," said Hassan al-Shammari, the party's leader. But he added that his party will support the government.

"The passage of the security agreement with the U.S. is a major credit for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Dawa party, and this will definitely affect the results of the upcoming provincial elections," he said.

Mohammed al-Daini, a Sunni lawmaker who voted to reject the agreement, said that the county would be "shackled for many years politically, economically and security-wise" because of the pact. "Whomever voted for this agreement will bear the responsibility of the negative results from it," he said.