US troops to 'stay in Iraq until 2011'

Iraq's Cabinet approved a pact yesterday that will allow US forces to remain in the country until 2011, bringing an end to nearly a year of intense negotiations.

The pact must still be approved by the Iraqi parliament, but Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said he expects that to happen before the end of the month.

The pact, which will govern the presence of US forces beyond the end of this year, is now officially called an agreement on the withdrawal of US troops, a sign of how Iraq's government has grown more confident over months of talks.