Iraq expects U.S. reply to proposed pact changes

Iraq expects an American response to requested changes in a draft security pact soon after this week’s U.S. presidential election, an aide to the prime minister said Sunday.

Another Iraqi official said the U.S. indicated it would accept all the proposed changes except one – greater Iraqi legal control over American soldiers and contractors.

Yassin Majeed said the U.S. response would come after Tuesday’s vote so the president-elect – either Barack Obama or John McCain – could be briefed on the Iraqi proposals, which were submitted by Iraq’s Cabinet last week.

Iraqi lawmakers say the changes are essential in order to win parliamentary approval for the deal, which would keep American troops in this country until 2012 and give the Iraqis a greater role in the conduct of U.S. military operations.

Parliament must approve the agreement before the year-end expiration of the U.N. mandate that allows coalition forces to operate here legally.