State-owned parcels eyed for gas deposits

Court briefs

<b>First Posted:</b> 11/27/2008<br><br>QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD &amp;mdash; Intense dealmaking among Iraq&amp;rsquo;s political factions on Wednesday delayed by one day a parliamentary vote on a security pact that would allow American forces to stay in the country through 2011 under tight Iraqi supervision.

The proposed deal meets a longtime Iraqi demand for a clear timetable for the exit of about 150,000 American troops after years of war. But the Shiite-led government was struggling to meet the demands of political blocs, including a large group of Sunni Arab lawmakers, seeking concessions in return for supporting the agreement.
&amp;ldquo;There are complications, but we haven&amp;rsquo;t lost hope yet,&amp;rdquo; Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told al-Arabiya television.
Lawmakers arrived at the parliament building for the planned vote in a session scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. But Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani later said political leaders were working toward a settlement that will clear the way for a rescheduled vote today. 
&amp;ldquo;We have just been told that the general climate is definitely moving toward a solution,&amp;rdquo; al-Mashhadani said. The leaders are in agreement over all issues except one and we have been told that they need time to settle it.&amp;rdquo;
He did not say what the sticking point was.
Fearing insurgent attacks, the Iraqi army and police deployed additional forces around parliament.
Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki&amp;rsquo;s ruling coalition appears to be assured of at least a slim majority in the 275-seat legislature.
But the prime minister seeks a bigger win that transcends factionalism and sectarian divisions and reinforces the legitimacy of the pact, which could lead to full Iraqi sovereignty and close the bloody chapter that began with the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
Shiite Lawmaker Ridha Jawad Taqi said the government&amp;rsquo;s Shiite and Kurdish blocs, which account for about 140 seats, or a slight majority in parliament, were willing to hold a national referendum on the deal in 2009.

Iraqi parliament delays vote on U.S. pact