Talabani, U.S. embassy officials discuss pact

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Friday conferred with high-ranking officials of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on the final developments related to troop withdrawal and the proposed Iraqi-U.S. security pact, after the Iraqi government had received the U.S. response concerning suggested amendments. “Talabani today received the U.S. ambassador in Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and his accompanying delegation,” read a presidential release that was received by IraqiNews.com. “Talabani and Crocker stressed the necessity of the pact to organize and expand horizons of mutual strategic relations, preserving national sovereignty and combined interests of the two countries,” it added. MH (P)/AmR 1