美国和伊拉克高级外交官说，他们很快将就驻伊拉克美军的前途问题达成协议。但是国务卿赖斯和伊拉克外交部长扎巴里星期四在巴格达对记者说，双方还没有签署任何协议。
赖斯正在对伊拉克首都巴格达进行一次事先没有宣布的访问。她在谈判一个协议，确定在联合国授权今年底期满后驻留伊拉克的美军数量。协商的议题还包括将向在伊拉克服役的美军士兵提供什么程度的豁免。
The top U.S. and Iraqi diplomats say they are close to agreeing on the future of U.S. forces in Iraq. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters in Baghdad today (Thursday) that no deal has yet been signed.
Rice is in the Iraqi capital on an unannounced visit. She is negotiating a deal that will govern U.S. troop levels after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year. Also at issue is what amount of immunity will be offered to U.S. soldiers who serve there.