The pact was backed by the ruling coalition's Shi'ite and Kurdish blocs.

Sunni Arab lawmakers gave their approval on the condition that a national referendum on the pact be held by July 30.

But a number of deputies remain fiercely opposed to allowing U.S. troops to stay three more years in the country.

A bloc of 30 lawmakers loyal to anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr chanted protests and held banners at today's session.

Under the deal, all U.S. military bases are to be turned over to Iraq following the U.S. withdrawal.

It will also ban the United States, which currently holds some 17,000 detainees in Iraq, to hold prisoners indefinitely without charge.

The pact is valid for three years, but either party can terminate it with one year's notice.

U.S. President George W. Bush on November 27 congratulated the Iraqi government on passing the pact.

Compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Iraq_Parliament_Passes_US_Security_Pact/13537