Press TV
October 18, 2011
On Monday, a US defense official described the issue as a ‘sticking point’ in the negotiations, AFP reported.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the US administration was “looking at all the different options right now” to facilitate an immunity deal.
There are currently about 43,500 US soldiers deployed in Iraq. According to a 2008 bilateral security accord, known as the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), all the US troops are required to leave the country by the end of this year.
Under pressure from Washington, Iraqi political leaders recently agreed to allow some of the US forces to stay longer for ‘training’ purposes, but refused to shield them from prosecution.
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