Iraqi parliament to vote on U.S.-Iraq security pact

From Jomana Karadsheh
CNN

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) - The Iraqi parliament has wrapped up debates on a proposed security pact between the United States and Baghdad and is expected to vote on the heavily protested deal by midweek, it said in a statement.

The parliament met for a reading and debate of the proposal Saturday, a day after enraged Iraqis staged an angry protest against the deal. Thousands of people - most of whom are backers of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr - streamed into Baghdad's Firdous Square on Friday waving Iraqi flags, hoisting posters with portraits of the cleric and carrying signs protesting the agreement.