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Iraq presidential council approves US status of forces agreement

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Iraqi presidential council on Thursday approved a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that sets a 2011 deadline for the withdraw of US troops but also approved an additional law calling for a national referendum on the pact in July 2009. The approval of the council, comprising President Jalal Talabani and two vice presidents, was the final step required before the SOFA can go into effect on January 1, 2009, a day after the current UN mandate authorizing the US presence in Iraq expires. The SOFA was approved by the Iraq cabinet in November, and then by the Iraq parliament last week. In addition to the official deadlines for troop withdraw, it gives Iraqi courts limited jurisdiction over American military personnel and eliminates immunity for US defense contractors working within Iraq.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on December 04, 2008 (boomark / email).