BREAKING NEWS: Non-US forces to remain in Iraq

The BBC is reporting Iraqi politicians have agreed on a compromise that will allow non-US forces to remain in Iraq beyond the end of 2008. Last month, Iraq and the US reached an agreement to extend the US's mandate in Iraq however a bill to allow non-US troops to remain in the country was voted down in the Iraqi parliament over the weekend.

Since then, the major political parties have reached a compromise that will see non-US troops remain in Iraq until the end of July 2009. 

Australian defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon has welcomed the announcement, telling ABC radio,  "we continue to work with the Iraqi government and the Iraqi parliament to make sure we're well placed to continue to play whatever positive role we can play in their reconstruction efforts."