White House says Iraqi vote on troop pact positive

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Sunday welcomed as a "positive step" Iraq's cabinet approving an agreement allowing U.S. troops to stay until 2011.

"While the process is not yet complete, we remain hopeful and confident we'll soon have an agreement that serves both the people of Iraq and the United States well and sends a signal to the region and the world that both our governments are committed to a stable, secure and democratic Iraq," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

(Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria; Editing by Patricia Zengerle)