US President George W. Bush yesterday welcomed the Iraqi parliament's approval of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that will allow American troops to stay in Iraq for another three years.

"Today's vote affirms the growth of Iraq's democracy and increasing ability to secure itself...We look forward to a swift approval by Iraq's Presidency Council," the president said in a statement.

The Iraqi parliament yesterday passed the SOFA pact with 149 of the 198 lawmakers present voting in favor.

According to Iraqi law, the pact must be passed through the parliament and then through the presidency council in order to be valid.

"We congratulate the members of the Council of Representatives for coming together to approve these historic agreements that will serve the shared and enduring interests of both our countries and the region," Bush said.

The SOFA pact stated, among other things, that US troops will withdraw to their bases from Iraq's cities, towns and villages by June 30, 2009, and will leave the country on Dec. 31, 2011.

The two countries for months were at odds over the agreement, which the US needs as legitimate support for the stationing of its troops in Iraq after the current UN mandate expires on Dec. 31.