By IRNA
London : A confidential draft agreement covering the future of US forces in Iraq shows that provision is being made for an open-ended military presence in the country, according to a UK daily.
The Guardian Tuesday said it had seen a draft strategic framework agreement between the US and Iraqi governments marked “secret” and “sensitive” that is intended to replace the existing UN mandate.
The agreement was said to authorize the US to “conduct military operations in Iraq and to detain individuals when necessary for imperative reasons of security” without time limit. But it also claimed that the US “does not desire permanent bases.”
The leaked document comes as US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, was due to face questioning from all three presidential candidates in Washington Tuesday when he reports to the Senate on his surge strategy.
The Guardian suggested that the absence of a time limit or restrictions on the US and other coalition forces – including the British – in the country meant the new strategic framework is likely to be strongly opposed in Iraq and the US.