The Iraqi parliament is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement that would provide for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq by the end of 2011.
Today, a key group of Sunni legislators demanded a national referendum on the agreement and other concessions in return for its support. The agreement is still expected to pass.
In neighboring Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman met on Tuesday. Iranian media reported that the talks would include defense cooperation to improve Lebanon’s defense capability against Israel.
Raghida Dergham, columnist and senior diplomatic correspondent for Al Hayat, joins Martin Savidge to discuss developments in the Middle East, including the Iran-Lebanon talks and the status of the U.S.-Iraq security pact.
