Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Politics

Long-term U.S. role in Iraq is topic of Baghdad talks

WASHINGTON - The United States and Iraq are opening negotiations in Baghdad on a blueprint for a long-term relationship, plus a narrower deal to define the legal basis for a U.S. troop presence, a Pentagon official said Friday.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the talks are scheduled to start today.

Morrell said the United States wants a deal by December, when the U.N. Security Council resolution that now governs the U.S. and coalition presence in Iraq expires.

The negotiations triggered criticism from some in Congress, in part because the administration says the deal will not require congressional approval and also out of concern that it might commit to a specific U.S. troop level.

Morrell would not discuss specifics of the U.S. negotiating position, but he said the final agreement "does not seek permanent bases, will not in any way codify the number of troops that will remain in Iraq; it will not tie the hands of a future commander in chief, it will not require Senate ratification, but we will make every effort to keep Congress apprised of progress in these talks."

The latest in Iraq

-Reclusive Shiite cleric and militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has decided to drop out of politics for a while being because his disillusionment with the political scene in Iraq has left him sick and anxious, he said in a letter Friday to followers. Al-Sadr said he had decided to devote himself to a period of study, reflection and prayer after failing in his mission to rid Iraq of the U.S. occupation or to turn it into Islamic society. He also cited the defection of some of his followers. Two weeks ago leader of the Mahdi Army militia renewed the 6-month cease-fire that has been credited with helping bring down violence in Iraq.

-Authorities have raised to 68 the death count from Thursday evening's suicide bomb attacks in the Karada shopping and residential distric of Baghdad.

- Iraq's president met with his Turkish counterpart on Friday in a visit that comes a week after Turkish forces ended a ground incursion against Kurdish rebels based in Iraq. The visit of Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, reflects diplomatic efforts to lower tensions,

Also in Iraq

Bowing out: Reclusive Shiite cleric and militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has decided to drop out of politics for a while because his disillusionment with the political scene in Iraq has left him sick and anxious, he said in a letter Friday to followers. Sadr said he had decided to devote himself to a period of study, reflection and prayer after failing in his mission to rid Iraq of the U.S. occupation or turn it into Islamic society. He also cited the defection of some followers. Two weeks ago the leader of the Mahdi Army militia renewed a six-month cease-fire.

Toll rises: Authorities have raised to 68 the death count from Thursday's suicide bomb attacks in the Karada shopping and residential district of Baghdad.

Iraq-Turkey meeting: Iraq's president met with his Turkish counterpart Friday, a week after Turkish forces ended a ground incursion against Kurdish rebels based in Iraq.

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 01:30:17]