U.S.-Iraq Security Deal To Be Decided Wednesday

Baghdad, Iraq (AHN) - Iraq's Shia-dominated government on Wednesday expressed optimism the parliament will give its nod to the proposed agreement with the U.S. that details U.S. troops withdrawal from the region by the end of 2011.

The Iraqi parliament is due to vote on the proposal.

However, the deal is facing opposition from the parliament, particularly from the Sunni MPs and hard line Shia party, the Sadrists, who insist that U.S. troops must leave by the end of this year, when their U.N. mandate expires.

The Sunnis wants more from their tribe enrolled into the security forces and are also asking for a referendum.

The voting comes as fresh violence struck Baghdad Tuesday, that killed a U.S. Marine and a soldier while on a humanitarian mission.

The attack in Baaj, in the northern province of Nineveh, also injured two Marines and three civilians, military officials say.

Washington is hoping that the deal with Baghdad, which took at least a year of intense negotiations, will be ratified by the Iraqi parliament to extend their stay until 2011 or the U.S. forces in the region will have to stop all its activities in the region after December 31, 2008.