Violence in Iraq had not ebbed Friday following an endorsement by the National Assembly of a controversial security pact with the United States a day earlier. A suicide bomber blew himself up in a Shiite mosque during Friday prayers south of Baghdad and followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr protested the deal by burning American flags.

AMMAN -- The Iraqi parliament endorsed a controversial Iraq-U.S. security pact Thursday in a heated and chaotic session that observers said typifies the general state of widespread anarchy that has spread across the country after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and occupation.

PARIS -- The signature on Nov. 17 of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker is a significant move toward the restoration of Iraqs sovereignty. But many hurdles remain.

BAGHDAD -- Thousands of supporters of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rallied Friday in central Baghdads Firdous Square to denounce the Iraq-U.S. Status of Force Agreement (SOFA) and demand its rejection by the countrys parliament.

AMMAN -- The Iraqi parliament convened on Monday to read a controversial security pact with the United States and debate how to vote on the accord, after the Iraqi cabinet approved the final draft following months of what both sides said were tough negotiations.

AMMAN -- As the Iraqi government struggles to finalize a crucial security pact with the United States that can be accepted by Iraqi leaders, it is also making diplomatic efforts to assure its neighbors and fellow Arab states that the accord is not as dangerous to their security and sovereignty as they fear.

"Be careful what you wish for, you may get it." U.S. officials involved in negotiating the Status of Forces Agreement, known as SOFA, with the Iraqi government might be forgiven if the old saying has been running through their heads a lot recently. The SOFA would set the terms on which U.S. forces operate in Iraq after Dec. 31 when the U.N. mandate, under which they currently function, expires.

A whole new world began Tuesday when Sen. Barack Obama won the U.S. presidential election: Expect some big changes in the Middle East, but expect some things to remain remarkably unchanged too.

AMMAN – Even as Iraqi forces take over security of one more province from U.S. troops, Baghdad is still attempting to negotiate a controversial security pact with the United States that Washington had already said was the final draft intended to legalize the U.S. military presence in Iraq beyond 2008.

MOSCOW -- The Iraqi council of ministers has decided to introduce new amendments to the draft of the U.S.-Iraqi strategic partnership agreement concerning the possible withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. This will inevitably result in the resumption of U.S.-Iraqi talks, despite the fact that the parties had already stated they reached a compromise that was to be officially adopted only.