U.S.-Iraq agreement may be hard sell

BAGHDAD, July 2 (UPI) -- An Iraqi official Wednesday hinted at delays in negotiations toward an agreement to keep U.S. troops legally in the country.

The U.N. mandate under which U.S. troops invaded in 2003 expires Dec. 31.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters in Baghdad that negotiations, ongoing since March, have made some progress, The New York Times reported, but difficult issues remain -- such as Iraqi control over U.S. operations and the right of U.S. soldiers to detain suspects.

"The Americans cannot stay in Iraq without a legal authorization" after the end of the year, Zebari said.

The Times said the official proposed "three options: Either we conclude a Status of Forces Agreement or we have an interim agreement until a SOFA can be completed or we go back to the Security Council at the end of the year and ask for another extension."

The Bush administration has said it expects an agreement by the end of the month, but had no comment of Zebari's remarks.