In Baghdad, Iraqi lawmakers have passed a resolution that may force an end to the U.S. military occupation. By an 85-to-59 vote, the Iraqi Parliament passed a binding resolution to require the al-Maliki government consult lawmakers before extending the U.S. military mandate in Iraq. The move was spearheaded by supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as well as several Sunni parties. Iraqi blogger Raed Jarrar described the vote as an enormous development. Jarrar reports that lawmakers in Baghdad are planning to block the extension of the coalition’s mandate when it comes up for renewal in six months.