Iraqi leaders discuss security accord

BAGHDAD, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi and Shiite leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim met the U.S. envoy to the United Nations to discuss the bilateral security pact.

The Iraqi Parliament Thursday passed a security deal with the United States that provides the legal framework for the continued presence of American forces in Iraq through Dec. 31, 2011. U.S. forces had operated under a U.N. mandate, which expires at the end of the month.

Hakim, the head of the influential Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, and the Iraqi vice president met with Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, to discuss relations between both countries in the wake of the expiring U.N. mandate, the Voices of Iraq news agency reported Tuesday.

SIIC, Hakim's party, said the meeting with Khalilzad focused on removing Iraq from under a Chapter VII U.N. Charter, which defines Iraq as a threat to the international community.

The Iraqi vice president also met with Ryan Crocker, the U.S. envoy to Iraq, to discuss implementing the security agreement passed Thursday.

"On Monday, Abdul Mehdi discussed with Khalilzad and Crocker means of putting the laws outlined in the agreement into effect, in addition to the subject of troop withdrawal and the readiness of Iraqi security forces," said a statement from the vice president's office.

The U.S.-Iraqi pact still requires approval from the three-member presidential council. The matter will be put before a public referendum July 30.