But some Iraqi lawmakers welcomed the remarks.

In the heavily fortified Green Zone, Iraqi lawmakers shouted at one another as debate proceeded over how quickly to allow provinces to become autonomous states.

If the request is granted, Mr. Dulaimi will be only the second Iraqi lawmaker to have immunity from prosecution stripped away by colleagues.

Dhafer al-Ani, an Iraqi lawmaker from the moderate Sunni bloc Tawafiq, said Mr. Zubaie's condition was stable.

Hours before General Casey spoke, Iraq's prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, told Iraqi lawmakers that his program of national reconciliation was the country's "last chance" to avoid slipping into chaos.

Iraqi lawmakers pushed ahead on Tuesday in their efforts to flesh out a plan introduced by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to stem the sectarian attacks in the city.

On December 17, 2008, a group of Iraqi lawmakers demanded that the legislature take up the issue of the detained journalist.

The democracy's not jelling, as Iraqi lawmakers get ready to slouch off for a two-month vacation, leaving our kids to be blown up.

Odierno's comments sparked outrage among some Iraqi lawmakers who say the U.S. is paving the way for breaching the interim agreement.

On 10 May 2007, 144 Iraqi Parliamentary lawmakers signed onto a legislative petition calling on the United States to set a timetable for withdrawal.