Washington  - The United States was cautiously optimistic that an agreement establishing the legal basis for US troops in Iraq will be approved by the parliament in Baghdad, with the White House saying challenges remain in finalizing the deal.

"We're nearly there, but there are a couple more hurdles that we have to get through," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Monday, a day after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's cabinet approved the agreement.

Baghdad  - Iraq's parliament on Monday completed the first reading of the final draft of the country's security pact with the United States, as opponents continued to denounce it.

As lawmakers were considering the deal, one policeman was killed and more than 30 people were injured in attacks across Iraq.

The 275-member house is set to review the pact over the coming days and vote on the deal by November 24, deputy speaker Khalid al- Attiyah said in a press conference.

Baghdad - Iraq's parliament convened Monday for a first reading of the final draft of the country's security pact with the United States, a day after the Iraqi cabinet approved the deal.

The 275-member house would review the pact over the coming days and vote on the deal by November 24, deputy speaker Khalid al-Attiyah said in a press conference.

The agreement outlines the timeframe for the withdrawal of US troops and the legal basis for the future presence of US troops in Iraqi after a United Nations Security Council mandate expires at the end of this year.

London, Nov 17 : The Iraqi cabinet has reportedly approved a hard-fought security pact with the US, under which all American troops would withdraw from the country in three years, thereby putting an end to the US-led occupation of Iraq.

But, the security arrangement will have to clear its final hurdle that of being ratified by the fractured Iraqi parliament today. The agreement was discussed for months together, but nine cabinet members failed to turn up at the meeting in which the agreement was adopted, reported The Independent.

The deal with the US raises expectations that Britain is on the point of agreeing a similar pact on the withdrawal of its 4100 troops from southern Iraq, it added.

Baghdad - Dozens of people were injured in a car bomb a

Tehran - Tehran remained noncommittal on the just-concluded Iraqi security pact with the United States and said Monday that it would delay commenting until after the pact was approved by the Iraqi parliament.

The Iraqi cabinet on Sunday approved the final version of a security pact with the United States.

Iran has several times voiced its opposition to the security pact and called on the US to withdraw its forces from Iraq and allow the Iraqi government to take care of state affairs.