Iraqi forces assume control by year's end

BAGHDAD, July 14 (UPI) -- Iraqi forces will take charge in all provinces by the end of the year as part of the memorandum of understanding with the United States, a lawmaker said.

Sami al-Askari with the ruling United Iraq Alliance said in an exclusive interview with the newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that U.S. negotiators have "given up" on a formal status of forces agreement with Iraq and opted for a more informal security arrangement to replace the current U.N. mandate.

"The U.S. party has given up the idea of a military agreement and has proposed instead the idea of a security protocol to be appended to the framework agreement," he said.

The lawmaker said issues remain on the security arrangement, notably on the departure of U.S. forces from Iraq. He said Iraqi negotiators have recommended all U.S. ground troops leave the country in "two to three years," while U.S. officials have proposed five years.

Askari also noted Iraqi forces are set to assume security responsibility throughout Iraq by the end of the year, though U.S. forces would provide air support through 2011.