Official touts importance of U.S. troops

BAGHDAD, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Iraq's interior minister said Friday it would be a mistake if Iraq does not sign a security pact with the United States government.

Not signing the security agreement would be a "strategic mistake", Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad Al-Boulani said Friday.

KUNA, the Kuwaiti News Agency, reported al-Boulani, who is traveling in Jordan, said Iraq could lose its security gains if international troops leave the war-torn country.