President Talabani, Odierno confer progress of U.S.-Iraq security deal-statement

SULAIMANIYA/IraqiNews.com: Iraq’s president Jalal Talabani on Sunday conferred the latest developments of a security deal with the commander of U.S. army in his country. “President Jalal Talabani conferred with Multi-National troop’s commander in Iraq Gen. Diamond Odierno the developments of the strategic U.S-Iraq agreement and the ways to crack down on terrorism and to assert security across Iraq,” said a presidential office statement received by IraqiNews.com. The UN mandate currently acts as the legal framework for the presence of foreign forces in the violence-wracked country. “The two officials stressed the importance of MNF role in providing security and maintaining stability in Iraq,” the announcement noted. For his side, Gen Odierno called Iraqi leaders to “bolster up ranks and boost democratic progress in their country to face challenges and to forge national reconciliation”. Washington and Baghdad are currently negotiating a security pact that would decide the future of US forces in Iraq after the present UN mandate expires at the end of this year. AM(S) 1