Maliki calls U.S. demands unacceptable
AMMAN, Jordan, June 13 (UPI) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Friday detailed his differences with the United States on a new security agreement between the two nations.
Maliki said that negotiations between his Baghdad government and the United States are at an impasse, The New York Times reported. The status-of-forces agreement would replace the U.N. mandate, which expires at the end of the year.
"The American version of the agreement infringes hugely on the sovereignty of Iraq and this is something that we cannot ever accept," he told newspaper editors in Amman, Jordan.
Iraq cannot accept immunity for U.S. soldiers and contractors operating within its borders, he said. It also cannot allow U.S. forces to carry out military or security operations independently, to arrest Iraqis independently or to use Iraqi airspace and waterways without permission.
On Thursday, after a meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, Maliki was somewhat more conciliatory emphasizing continuing negotiations.