Iraqi lawmakers divided on US pact

The defense minister warned that losing the protection of the US Navy could even bring piracy to Persian Gulf waters like that plaguing international shipping off Somalia.

The vote originally was planned for tomorrow, but Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani announced the new date after six hours of speeches by lawmakers closed out last week's debate on the pact.

Mashhadani said the vote could be held earlier than Wednesday if the Shi'ite-led governing coalition and other political groups reached an understanding, but that seemed unlikely after days of contentious debate and even some scuffling among legislators.

The speaker, a Sunni Arab, rated chances for the pact's passage at "50-50."

That assessment was a harsh one for Maliki, who needs a broad consensus. Failure to achieve that could deepen antagonism among Iraq's political factions, which are heavily based on ethnic and sectarian loyalties.

The security pact emerged from nine months of tough talks between US and Iraqi negotiators, and the Iraqi Cabinet approved it a week ago on the grounds that it provided a clear timetable for the withdrawal of US forces after more than five years of war.

But many Iraqis see the American presence as a smear on national sovereignty, even if some believe it is needed for now to combat a lingering insurgency.

In the 275-seat Parliament, the security pact also has become a flashpoint for attacks on Maliki in what could be a campaign warm-up ahead of provincial elections Jan. 31 and general elections late next year.

Yesterday, several lawmakers said it made no sense to approve a deal with a US administration that has less than two months left in office and argued a better option would be to negotiate a new pact once Barack Obama becomes president.

Parliament is being asked only to approve or reject the agreement, and lawmakers cannot seek amendments. If the accord passes, it will go to President Jalal Talabani and his two deputies for ratification. Each has veto power.