“We cannot allow US forces to have the right to jail Iraqis or assume, alone, the responsibility of fighting against terrorism,” Maliki told Jordanian newspaper editors, according to a journalist present at the meeting.
The White House, meanwhile, vowed to pursue the talks while respecting Iraq’s sovereignty.
“We are not sure of the exact words he (Maliki) used, we intend to continue to work with the Iraqis on the negotiations,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
“We fully respect their sovereignty — it is, after all, what we fought for in the liberation,” she said, referring to the March 2003 US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.
Criticism has been rife in Iraq and in neighbouring Iran over the deal to cover the foreign military presence in Iraq when a UN mandate expires at the end of this year.
US President George W. Bush and Maliki agreed in principle last November to sign a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) by the end of July.
Maliki told Iraqi community leaders in Jordan that the talks were not over.
http://newageislam.com/maliki-says-talks-on-iraq-us-security-pact-deadlocked/islam-and-the-west/d/94
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4:19 AM
Moderate Islamist here
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