London, Nov 17 : The Iraqi cabinet has reportedly approved a hard-fought security pact with the US, under which all American troops would withdraw from the country in three years, thereby putting an end to the US-led occupation of Iraq.
But, the security arrangement will have to clear its final hurdle that of being ratified by the fractured Iraqi parliament today. The agreement was discussed for months together, but nine cabinet members failed to turn up at the meeting in which the agreement was adopted, reported The Independent.
The deal with the US raises expectations that Britain is on the point of agreeing a similar pact on the withdrawal of its 4100 troops from southern Iraq, it added.