Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari and US ambassador Ryan Crocker signed a long-awaited accord yesterday requiring Washington to withdraw its forces within three years.

The signing ceremony put a formal end to months of negotiations over the pact on the future of the US presence, which the Iraqi government approved on Sunday. The pact must still be passed in the Iraqi parliament, but the government is confident it will achieve this by the end of the month.

"Definitely, today is an historic day for Iraqi-American relations, signing the security pact after months of difficult talks and negotiations," Zebari told reporters after exchanging signed copies with Crocker. Both men smiled and enthusiastically shook hands as officials applauded.