Negotiators have finalised a deal that will see the complete withdrawal of US troops from Iraq by 2011, ending an eight-year occupation, the top Iraqi heading the team has said.
Under the 27-point deal all US combat troops will be withdrawn from Iraqi cities by next June.
The agreement has already been approved by US President George W Bush and now needs to be endorsed by Iraqi leaders.
The security pact will decide the future of US forces in Iraq once the present UN mandate, which provides the legal framework for the presence of foreign forces in Iraq, expires in December.
Mr Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had agreed last November to formalise such an agreement by 31 July.
The arrangement was delayed due to strong opposition from Iraqi leaders over key issues such as the timing of the withdrawal, how many bases Washington would retain and whether US troops would be immune from Iraqi laws.
The top Iraqi negotiator said these issues had been resolved, but he added that there is still a possibility that US troops could leave before 2011 or remain beyond the target date, depending on the security situation.
He conceded that even if the withdrawal does take place by 2011, some US troops could remain ‘to train Iraqi security forces’.
