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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Iraq MPs approve election reform | Iraq MPs approve election reform |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Iraqi parliament has approved a crucial election law ahead of national polls due in January 2010. | The Iraqi parliament has approved a crucial election law ahead of national polls due in January 2010. |
| The reform was approved by 141 of 196 lawmakers present. The UN had warned it could not guarantee to endorse the poll if the bill had not been passed. | |
| There have been fears that delaying the election could undo recent progress towards greater stability. | There have been fears that delaying the election could undo recent progress towards greater stability. |
| The parliamentary poll is seen as crucial to democracy in Iraq, and could impact on the US plan for a pullout. | The parliamentary poll is seen as crucial to democracy in Iraq, and could impact on the US plan for a pullout. |
| The electoral law has to be in place at least 90 days before voting. | The electoral law has to be in place at least 90 days before voting. |
| MPs had been deadlocked on a range of issues - including how candidates are listed on ballot papers and the distribution of seats in the ethnically divided, oil-rich city of Kirkuk. | MPs had been deadlocked on a range of issues - including how candidates are listed on ballot papers and the distribution of seats in the ethnically divided, oil-rich city of Kirkuk. |
| There have been a number of deadly attacks across Iraq in recent weeks. | There have been a number of deadly attacks across Iraq in recent weeks. |
| Correspondents say violence may intensify as militant groups attempt to destabilise Iraq in the run-up to the election. | Correspondents say violence may intensify as militant groups attempt to destabilise Iraq in the run-up to the election. |