Baghdad ? A top Iraqi official warned Saturday that time is running out to sign a new security agreement with Washington, saying the country still needed U.S. troops despite improved security.

Also Saturday, a U.S. soldier was killed and two others were wounded by a roadside bomb in north Baghdad – the first combat death in the capital area in three weeks. A suicide bomber killed eight people Saturday and wounded 17 west of Baghdad, Iraqi police said.

Both attacks show that militants have still not given up the fight despite setbacks at the hands of U.S. and Iraqi forces.

“I hope that we can settle this matter as soon as soon possible because time is running out,” Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh said of the long-delayed security pact. “The security improvement that has been achieved is very important. The support of U.S. forces in the coming period will still be very important.”

Iraq’s parliament must approve the agreement by the end of next month when the U.N. mandate expires. The new agreement would keep U.S. forces in Iraq until 2012 and give the Iraqis broader authority over military operations until then.