In a historic decision, the Iraqi parliament has voted to accept a deal on the future withdrawal of US troops from the country, following intense negotiations with the White House, the State Department and a variety of interests and voices within the country.
The decision has been welcomed by US President George Bush, who seems keen to avoid the 'stain' of a disastrous piece of adventurism as his main legacy, though the official line is still that the invasion and its aftermath were justified and have 'worked', in spite of a few 'decisions which could have been better with hindsight'.
The Iraqi parliament's vote now means US troops are due to leave Iraqi streets by mid-2009 and will leave Iraq entirely by the end of 2011. Observers say, however, that conditions on the ground could still impact and modify the process.
The agreement is the result of a year of negotiations with the US, with the Iraqis requesting several changes, reports the BBC. Some groups fiercely opposed the pact in parliament and at mass rallies, demanding that US troops leave earlier.
Iraq's Presidential Council must still ratify the deal but its approval is expected to be a matter of course, if not routine.
Iraq's government has hailed the parliamentary session as the prelude to the return of full sovereignty to the country.
Of the 275 members of parliament, 198 were present, with 149 voting in favour of the deal. An initial Iraqi count had put the figure at 144.
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