Rice in Iraq to Check on Security Talks
Posted on: Thursday, 21 August 2008, 09:00 CDT
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Baghdad Thursday on an unannounced trip to review the status of talks on the future of U.S. troops in Iraq.
Rice said she thought it "might be useful to come out at this stage and get an update and be able to go back and brief the president" on what needs to be done, CNN reported.
"(It's) a very gratifying time because we're in a position where we believe we're going to be able to hand most security functions to the Iraqis," she said.
Rice said her trip shouldn't be interpreted that an agreement was imminent; rather, talks were at a point were the countries' political leaders could direct their energy on remaining issues, including a schedule for U.S. troop withdrawal and immunity from Iraqi prosecution for U.S. troops, The New York Times reported.
"My presence can identify whether there are any final obstacles," Rice said.
U.S. and Iraqi officials Wednesday said negotiators agreed to a draft of the security agreement, which would provide the legal basis for U.S. troops to remain in Iraq beyond Dec. 31, when U.N. authorization of international military intervention in Iraq expires.
Source: United Press International
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