Iraqi Parliament Votes to Extend Presence of Non-US Forces
伊拉克议会批准外国军队驻留议案
The speaker of Iraq's parliament has resigned, paving the way for lawmakers to authorize British and other non-U.S. foreign troops to remain in the country into 2009.
伊拉克议会议长辞职，为议员们授权英国和其它非美国的外国军队2009年继续待在伊拉克铺平道路。
The Iraqi parliament accepted the resignation of its speaker, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani after hours of behind the scenes negotiations and several days of debate. A quick voice vote followed to approve the presence of non-U.S. forces to remain in Iraq until July 31, 2009.
伊拉克国民议会接受了议长马什哈达尼的辞呈，此前，议会经过了几个小时不公开磋商和几天的辩论。马什哈达尼辞职之举为尽快口头表决批准非美国军队在2009年7月31号之前继续留在伊拉克铺平道路。
Mashhadani, his voice faltering and several times on the verge of tears, explained that he was resigning in the best interest of the nation after devoting 35 years of his life, many of them in prison and crowned by three years as speaker of parliament, to the service of his country.
马什哈达尼解释说，他把自己一生中的35年奉献给了这个国家，他的辞职符合国家的最佳利益，35年中他大部分的时间在监狱度过，最后担任了三年议长。他说话时声音哽咽，几度热泪盈眶。
He said he played the role of an honest-broker and that he never opened a discussion without seeking consensus, despite harsh words or kind words all at the same time. He concluded that the most important thing is that he leaves with a clear conscience before God, since lofty titles and positions make no difference.
马什哈达尼说，他扮演了真诚的斡旋人的角色，在磋商中尽管他逆耳或者顺耳的言词都用过，但他向来都在寻求达成一致意见。马什哈达尼最后说，最重要的是，他将带着对真主无愧的良心而辞职，因为，崇高的头衔和职位对他来说没有什么区别。
Colleagues of the Sunni politician praised his "devotion to his country," while others thanked him for his "sense of duty and honor" in agreeing to resign.
逊尼派政坛人物赞扬了马什哈达尼为国家做出的贡献，其他人则感谢他同意辞职是出于“责任心和荣誉感”。
Following Mashhadani's resignation, the deputy parliament speaker gaveled the session back to order, placing Monday's resolution that non-U.S. foreign forces be allowed to remain in the country until the end of July 2009 back on the table.
马什哈达尼辞职后，副议长要求议会会议继续进行，把星期一的允许非美国外国军队在2009年7月底之前继续留在伊拉克的议案重新放到谈判桌上。
Members of parliament then quickly voted to approve the resolution, allowing troops from Britain, Australia, Estonia, El Salvador and Romania to remain in the country after the U.N. mandate expires December 31.
伊拉克国民议会议员然后迅速表决，批准了这项议案，议案允许英国、澳大利亚、爱沙尼亚、萨尔瓦多和罗马尼亚军队在联合国授权12月31号到期之后继续留在伊拉克。
The United States and Iraq agreed to a new security pact last month, allowing U.S. troops to remain in the country until 2011.
美国和伊拉克上个月就一项新的安全条约达成一致，允许美国军队在伊拉克驻扎到2011年。
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared last week, during a visit to Baghdad, that his troops would leave Iraq by the end of May 2009. There had been concern that British and other foreign forces would be thrown into a legal limbo if no agreement was reached.
英国首相布朗上星期访问巴格达时宣布，英国军队2009年5月底之前离开伊拉克。此前有人担心，如果没有达成任何共识，英国和其它外国军队将失去驻扎在伊拉克的明确法律依据。
