BAGHDAD , Iraq ( CNN ) -- After months of tough negotiations and intense political wrangling , Iraqi lawmakers Thursday approved the U.S.-Iraqi security agreement , a pact that allows the presence of American troops in Iraq for three more years . Iraqis in a coffee shop watch the Iraqi parliament on television on Thursday . The vote -- which now needs unanimous ratification from the country 's three-member presidency council -- comes after a compromise on a reform package that Sunni Arab politicians demanded in return for their backing of the agreement . There were 198 lawmakers from the 275-member parliament present for the vote ; 149 of them voted for the security pact , which is to replace a U.N. mandate that expires at the end of year . The proposal , reached after months of negotiations between Iraqi and U.S. representatives , sets June 30 , 2009 , as the deadline for U.S. combat troops to withdraw from all Iraqi cities and towns . The date for all U.S. troops to leave Iraq would be December 31 , 2011 . The agreement -- which stresses respect for Iraqi sovereignty -- `` requests the temporary assistance '' of U.S. forces , but severely restricts their role . It says that all military operations are to be carried out with the agreement of Iraq and must be `` fully coordinated '' with Iraqis . A Joint Military Operations Coordination Committee would oversee military operations . Iraq has the `` primary right to exercise jurisdiction '' over U.S. forces `` for grave premeditated felonies , '' the agreement says . Suspects would be held by U.S. forces but must be available to Iraqi authorities for investigation or trial . Iraq also would have the `` primary right to exercise jurisdiction '' over U.S. contractors and their employees . Also , it says , `` Iraqi land , sea and air should n't be used as a launching or transit point for attacks against other countries . '' Parliament also passed another U.S.-Iraqi bilateral pact called the strategic framework agreement , along with the reform legislation . Lawmakers also OK 'd a referendum on the progress of the security agreement to be held by the end of July . U.S . Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker and Gen. Ray Odierno , the top U.S. military official in Iraq , issued a statement welcoming the passage of the security pact and the strategic framework agreement -- which covers a wide range of bilateral cooperation efforts . The two congratulated the lawmakers and said they look forward to the security pact 's ratification by the presidency council . `` Taken together , these two agreements formalize a strong and equal partnership between the United States and Iraq , '' their statement said . `` They provide the means to secure the significant security gains we have achieved together and to deter future aggression . `` They establish a framework for cooperation in the fields of defense , political relations , economics , trade , culture , education , the rule of law , health , the environment and science and technology . '' Sunni Arabs were not against the historic security agreement , but they were concerned about Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki having too much power when the agreement goes into effect . They wanted legislation that would underscore their constitutional interests and rights . Although there apparently were enough votes to approve the security pact even without the compromise , al-Maliki 's government , as well as Shiite and Kurdish leaders , wanted to work out the political reform deal with the Sunni Arabs so there could be national unity on the security pact . Asked why the political reform agreement was so important , Alaa Makki , a Sunni parliament member , said , `` It gave a message that there will be no dictatorship in Iraq in the coming period and the Iraqi people will say the final word . '' The compromise virtually assures the security agreement 's ratification by Iraq 's presidency council , which consists of Kurdish President Jalal Talabani , Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi and Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi . Lawmakers loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and others had been staunch opponents of the security pact . But there was overwhelming support for the measure from other quarters . The Sadrists made loud protests against the agreement during the brief parliament session . CNN 's Jomana Karadsheh and Arwa Damon contributed to this report .
NEW : Agreement asks `` temporary assistance '' of U.S. troops , but limits their role . NEW : Pact gives Iraq jurisdiction over U.S. troops `` for grave premeditated felonies '' NEW : U.S. ambassador , military , welcome Iraq 's passage of agreements . *