Baghdad/Cairo - Iraqis, blaming President George Bush for the chaos in their country since the fall of Saddam Hussein, would welcome Democrat Barack Obama's election on Tuesday for the change it would bring, although doubts remain about his plans for pulling out US troops.
Washington, Nov 1: The Commander of US forces in Iraq, General Raymond Odierno in a blunt assessment, has said that there is a 20-30 percent chance that the United States and Iraq won’t reach a deal to allow American troops to operate there past December 31.
On a scale of one to 10, “I’m probably a seven or eight that something is going to be worked out,” General Odierno told The Washington Times during a visit to the 101st Airborne Division in Samarra, about 120 miles north of Baghdad.
“I think it’s important for the Government of Iraq. I think it’s important for security and stability here,” he added.
Baghdad - Iraq will sign a long-term security agreement with the US only if the latter agrees to compromise on Iraqi-proposed amendments, the al-Sabah newspaper said Thursday.
The Iraqi government had handed the US embassy in Baghdad an amended draft on Tuesday, although both parties had agreed in mid- October that the last draft was final.
The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) would extend the mandate of US forces in Iraq beyond the end of this year, when the UN authorization runs out.
Damascus - The US embassy in Damascus announced that for security reasons it would be closed for the day Thursday as thousands of protesters in the Syrian capital demonstrated against the recent US commando raid on a Syrian village near the Iraqi border.
Carrying pictures of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, protestors denounced US President George W Bush, with signs bearing slogans such as: "Bush: The supporter of terrorism around the world."
Dozens of students from the Syrian region of Bokmal, the location of Sunday's raid, protested near the embassy, which was surrounded by Syrian riot police.
Baghdad - Iraq will sign a long-term security agreement with the US only if the latter agrees to compromise on Iraqi-proposed amendments, the semi-official al-Sabah newspaper said Thursday.
The Iraqi government had handed the US embassy in Baghdad an amended draft on Tuesday, although both parties had agreed in mid- October that the last draft was final.
The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) would extend the mandate of US forces in Iraq beyond the end of this year, when the UN authorization runs out.
Baghdad - Twin blasts in Baghdad Thursday killed a civilian and wounded ten more, Voices of Iraq (VOI) news agency reported.
In the first blast a carbomb exploded in a market place in northestern al-Hurria district. The explosion killed a civilian and wounded five, a police source said.
In the second blast, a bomb went off targeting a police patrol in al-Fadiliya district in the capital's east. The denotation injured five people including three policemen, a police source said.
Baghdad/Cairo - Iraqis, blaming President George Bush for the chaos in their country since the fall of Saddam Hussein, would welcome Democrat Barack Obama's election on Tuesday for the change it would bring, although doubts remain about his plans for pulling out US troops.
Baghdad - Iraq will sign a long-term security agreement with the US only if the latter agrees to compromise on Iraqi-proposed amendments, the al-Sabah newspaper said Thursday.
Damascus - The US embassy in Damascus announced that for security reasons it would be closed for the day Thursday as thousands of protesters in the Syrian capital demonstrated against the recent US commando raid on a Syrian village near the Iraqi border.
Baghdad - Iraq will sign a long-term security agreement with the US only if the latter agrees to compromise on Iraqi-proposed amendments, the semi-official al-Sabah newspaper said Thursday.
Baghdad - Twin blasts in Baghdad Thursday killed a civilian and wounded ten more, Voices of Iraq (VOI) news agency reported.
