Iraqi parliament rejects law on non-US troops

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Iraq's parliament on Saturday for a second time rejected a draft law allowing foreign troops from countries other than the United States, including Britain, to remain after the end of the year, lawmakers said. The draft law, which was rejected in a voice vote, would allow all foreign troops other than Americans to stay in Iraq until the end of July. It was drafted by the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. It was rejected earlier in the week and is expected to brought for another vote next week - where it is expected to be approved in the third and final reading. "Voting was carried out in parliament on the draft law and it was rejected and turned back to the government." Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman said. "The law calls for troops to withdraw in a six-month period and they want legal coverage for their stay, so why refuse it."