Iraq's parliament yesterday night backed a security agreement that would allow thousands of British troops and a few hundred soldiers from a handful of other countries to stay in Iraq until next summer.

The approval, which was delayed by recent fights in parliament, paves the way for the Baghdad government to sign a security agreement with Britain that also covers small contingents from Australia, El Salvador, Estonia and Romania.

Those troops will be authorised to stay in Iraq until July 2009.

Ernesto Londoño, Baghdad