A long-term agreement on keeping US troops in Iraq is said to be in danger of collapse. US and Iraqi officials say they’re at a stalemate over Iraqi refusals to accept immunity for American troops and contractors. The Bush administration had initially predicted reaching a deal by July but now says they hope to finalize it by December. That’s when the UN mandate authorizing the US occupation expires. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said if Iraq asks the UN for an extension, it would be on different terms. Maliki said, “We will attach conditions, and the US side will refuse. US forces would be without legal cover and will have no choice but to pull out from Iraq or stay and be in contravention of international law.”