Measure sent back to the Multi-National Force-Iraq members for reworking , Bill says . It would have allowed foreign troops to remain in Iraq after December 31 . Bill does n't apply to Iraq troops , who are to be out of Iraq by December 31 . British troops will begin leaving Iraq in May 2009 , Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a joint statement with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki during a visit to Iraq on Wednesday . Lawmakers questioned legitimacy of legislation 's second reading or raised other issues .
Measure sent back to the Multi-National Force-Iraq members for reworking , Bill says . It would have allowed foreign troops to remain in Iraq after December 31 . Bill does n't apply to Iraq troops , who are to be out of Iraq by December 31 . Lawmakers questioned legitimacy of legislation 's second reading or raised other issues .