& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Iraq-US security pact ’almost finalised'

US using spy sat to track Iraqi military

AFP, Baghdadi Washington
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Wednesday that Washington and Baghdad have “almost finalised" negotiations on a long-term security pact.
’We are talking about a strategic framework agreement that will improve cooperation between Iraq and the US on a whole range of issues... we have almost finalised the document," Zebari said at press briefing.
Zebari said the complex and difficult talks would continue as both sides try to strike an agreement before a July 30 deadline.
’There was a great deal of misrepresentation. confusion and poli ticking on this issue, ” he said.
"Our instructions from my government is to reach an acceptable agreement to preserve Iraqi
sovereignty and the United States' position has been supportive."
The security agreement aims to set down the ground rules for a continuing US troop presence after the UN mandate for foreign forces stationed in Iraq expires in December 2008.
US President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki agreed in principle last November to sign a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in Iraq by the end of July.
But talks appeared to reach a deadlock last month amid strong opposition from Iraqi political factions and with some Shia leaders denouncing the proposed agreement as "eternal slavery" for the country.
Zebari acknowledged that discussions had been tough.
"Initially there were hard posi-
tions from both the sides. Then the US delegation showed a great deal of flexibility. That is why we have not given up hope."
However, in the event that the talks broke down or a pact was delayed. Zebari said Baghdad and Washington were open to two other options.
"In case Iraq side rejects the security pact or if it is late for some reason, we have other choices... whether we go for a substitute bilateral agreement or we go to (UN) Security Council for one year extension (of the mandate)."
Meanwhile, the United States is using spy satellites to monitor the movements of the Iraqi army, after US commanders were caught off guard by the army's offensive in Basra, the LA Times reported Wednesday.
The newspaper cited unnamed
current and former US officials as saying that spy satellites that have monitored Iraq for two decades were being used to track the Iraqi army, even as US forces continue to advise and fight alongside it.
"They're imaging training areas that the Iraqi army utilises. They're imaging roads that Iraqi armoured vehicles and large convoys transit," a former US military official was quoted as saying.
However, the Times noted that while the development put the United States in an unusual position, it could be seen as a sign that the Iraqi army had reached a level of independence and competence that the US military had long hoped for.
"The bad news is we're spying on Iraqis," said the former military official. "The good news is that we have to."