WORLD> Middle East
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US, Iraq close in on deal for pullout of US troops
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-22 16:03 Rice spoke optimistically of completing a deal but stressed that it still needed top-level Iraqi approval. She also said it was made possible by security improvements.
Zebari, asked about fears expressed by neighboring countries over such a pact, said in Arabic: "This decision (agreement) is a sovereign one and Iran and other neighboring countries have the right to ask for clarifications. ... There are clear articles (that) say that Iraq will not be used as a launching pad for any aggressive acts against neighboring countries and we already did clarify this." A State Department transcript of Zebari's remarks said he added that Iran had been advised of that provision.
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