Ban also met with the three members of the presidency council -- Kurdish President Jalal Talabani, Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi and Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi.

CNN: U.N. chief, in Iraq, praises provincial elections

The three-member presidency council, which consists of President Jalal Talabani, Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi and Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, approved the agreement unanimously a week after the Iraqi parliament passed the measure.

CNN: U.S. troops to keep lower profile in Iraq

The compromise virtually assures the security agreement's ratification by Iraq's presidency council, which consists of Kurdish President Jalal Talabani, Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi and Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi.

CNN: Iraq parliament OKs pact on U.S. troops' future