Around the World: United States

Security deal 'near'

The United States and Iraq are close to reaching a long-delayed security deal, Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said at the beginning of a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Iraq's government is negotiating a new security pact with the United States that will provide a legal basis for US troops to operate in Iraq when a UN mandate expires at the end of the year.