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Iraq MPs approve election reform Iraq MPs approve election reform
(20 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. The reform was passed by a wide margin after weeks of deadlock, which had raised fears that the parliamentary election might have to be delayed.
There have been fears that delaying the election could undo recent progress towards greater stability. There have been concerns that such a postponement 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 poll is seen as crucial to stability and could impact on the US plan for a pullout, correspondents say.
IRAQI ELECTIONS 2003: US appoints Governing Council2004: Governing Council elects interim governmentAug 2004: National conference elects interim national assemblyJan 2005: First general elections for transitional national assembly and provincial councils - Sunnis boycott voteDec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and parliamentJan 2009: Elections for provincial councils - key test of security gainsJan 2010: General elections dueIRAQI ELECTIONS 2003: US appoints Governing Council2004: Governing Council elects interim governmentAug 2004: National conference elects interim national assemblyJan 2005: First general elections for transitional national assembly and provincial councils - Sunnis boycott voteDec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and parliamentJan 2009: Elections for provincial councils - key test of security gainsJan 2010: General elections due
The electoral law has to be in place at least 90 days before voting. The electoral law - which has to be in place at least 90 days before voting - was approved by 141 of 196 lawmakers present.
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. The emotional session was broadcast live on national television.
The BBC's Jim Muir, in Iraq, says the US will breathe a sign of relief following the vote, which had been delayed 10 times over several weeks.
Iraqi factions were deadlocked on a range of issues - including how candidates are to be listed on ballot papers and the distribution of seats in the ethnically divided, oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
The UN had warned it could not guarantee to endorse the poll if the bill had not been passed.
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.