Immunity issue a sticking point in status of forces agreement

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) - The United States' insistence that its troops and contractors remain immune from Iraqi law is still a key obstacle to reaching a status of forces agreement, which would govern U.S. military operations in Iraq, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Tuesday.

"The sticking points are the immunity issues and there (is) some progress with the new suggestions submitted by the Iraqi government," Zebari said at a joint news conference with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

"A number of immunity issues have been resolved in the previous negotiations," Zebari noted. But until the issue is fully resolved, the foreign minister said, he "cannot give... a timetable for this agreement."