Iraq to open talks with US on training

BAGHDAD - Iraq will open talks with Washington over a military training mission to last beyond a 2011 pullout deadline, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Wednesday, after months of US appeals for a decision.

The move is a key first step to reaching an agreement on the future of the US troop presence in Iraq, but any final deal still needs to resolve contentious details such as the size of the force, the duration of their stay and whether they would enjoy immunity from prosecution.

"The political blocs have agreed to let the government start negotiations with the US side only on the issues of training," Zebari told AFP, following an hours-long closed door meeting of Iraqi politicians, which began on Tuesday evening.