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BAGHDAD — The Iraqi parliament’s speaker is resigning, opening the way for approval of a resolution allowing thousands of British and other non-U.S. troops to stay into 2009.
Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani tendered his resignation and it was accepted by a majority of the deputies attending a closed-door emergency session of the parliament after days of bickering and negotiations. The resignation could be heard from outside the meeting.
The development will allow more than 5,000 foreign troops to remain until July 29. That ratification could come later in the day or Wednesday.
