Iraq wants an agreement authorising the continued presence of American forces on its soil to expire in three years, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Friday. According to Reuters, Dabbagh conveyed Iraq wants to negotiate a firm date by which all U.S. forces must pull out of the country, and wants the agreement allowing them to stay to be valid for only three years.
"The Iraqi government wants this agreement to be valid justfor three years," Dabbagh told Reuters. "The full withdrawal will depend on the situation on the ground and the needs ofIraqis and the decisions of the Iraqi government."
Sadr to stay in Iran
Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr intends to make a series of short visits to Iraq starting within weeks but has decided to make Iran his home base for years to come, a key aide said Friday.
According to the AP, Al-Sadr announced in March that he had moved to the Iranian holy city of Qom to focus on religious studies. Al-Sadr's aide said remaining in Iran would allow the Shiite leader time to pursue his religious education beyond what he needs to become an ayatollah. Al-Sadr expects to reach that goal in 2010, the aide said.
