Iraq signs military pact with Iran - Yahoo! News
Lost in the noise of the London bombings was this interesting little tidbit. Wonder if it will get any play on the news now...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq signed a military pact with Iran on Wednesday in a breakthrough with a former foe, but al Qaeda said it would kill Egypt's kidnapped envoy and attack more diplomats to stop the government winning international support.

Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi signed a pact in Tehran agreeing to accept Iranian military training and other cooperation with the country Iraq fought for a decade under ousted leader Saddam Hussein.

Responding to the suggestion that the thaw in ties with Iran would anger Washington, Dulaimi said: "Nobody can dictate to Iraq its relations with other countries."

Iraq is anxiously trying to improve its ties with other Muslim countries to win legitimacy and undermine insurgent support. But mainly Sunni-led Arab states have been cautious about embracing the Shi'ite-dominated, U.S.-backed Iraqi authorities.

Al Qaeda's Iraq wing, led by Jordanian Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, said it would kill Egypt's top envoy Ihab el-Sherif, issuing photographs of personal documents as proof it held him.

Its statement referred to a "sharp sword against the infidels' ambassador," an apparent hint that he could be beheaded. It included no demands or possibility of negotiation. Zarqawi's followers have frequently filmed beheadings of captives for maximum political impact.

What the kidnapping has to do with this military pact....I'm not sure. Rather strange report. But interesting that the Iraqi government would in any way align itself with Iran.