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Iraq VP vetoes new election law Iraq VP vetoes new election law
(19 minutes later)
One of Iraq's two vice-presidents has vetoed part of the country's new election law, putting the parliamentary polls scheduled for January in doubt.One of Iraq's two vice-presidents has vetoed part of the country's new election law, putting the parliamentary polls scheduled for January in doubt.
Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, revoked Article 1 of the law and called for the representation in parliament of displaced people to increase to 15%.Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, revoked Article 1 of the law and called for the representation in parliament of displaced people to increase to 15%.
Most Iraqis who have fled violence since 2003 are thought to be Sunni.Most Iraqis who have fled violence since 2003 are thought to be Sunni.
The law, which MPs approved after much delay 10 days ago, will now go back to parliament for further discussion. Electoral officials say they have suspended preparations for a January vote until an amended law is approved.
The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq had said the poll would be held between 18 and 23 January. Constitutionally, it must be held before the end of that month. "As a result of the veto, we have decided to stop all our activities and work as we await a final law with a presidential decree that determines the exact date of the election," Hamdiya al-Hussaini, of the Independent Electoral Commission, told the Reuters news agency.
The poll had been scheduled to be held between 18 and 23 January. Constitutionally, it must be held before the end of that month.
The election is seen as a prerequisite to the US meeting its goal of pulling out combat troops by 31 August 2010, ahead of a full withdrawal by the end of 2011.The election is seen as a prerequisite to the US meeting its goal of pulling out combat troops by 31 August 2010, ahead of a full withdrawal by the end of 2011.
'Compensatory seats''Compensatory seats'
Mr Hashemi said he objected to Article 1 of the law because it did not give voice to the four million Iraqis, mostly Sunni Arabs, whom he believed had fled the country in the wake of the sectarian conflict triggered by the US-led invasion in 2003.Mr Hashemi said he objected to Article 1 of the law because it did not give voice to the four million Iraqis, mostly Sunni Arabs, whom he believed had fled the country in the wake of the sectarian conflict triggered by the US-led invasion in 2003.
The proposed amendment affords justice to all Iraqis abroad, in all countries, and not just those residing in, or forcefully displaced to, neighbouring countries Tariq al-HashemiIraqi Vice-PresidentThe proposed amendment affords justice to all Iraqis abroad, in all countries, and not just those residing in, or forcefully displaced to, neighbouring countries Tariq al-HashemiIraqi Vice-President
Under the text approved by the Council of Representatives, the proportion of "compensatory seats" in the chamber representing the displaced would be set at 5% of the total. Mr Hashemi wants the figure raised to 15%.Under the text approved by the Council of Representatives, the proportion of "compensatory seats" in the chamber representing the displaced would be set at 5% of the total. Mr Hashemi wants the figure raised to 15%.
"I sent a letter to parliament asking for the law to be amended. Parliament said I could veto the contested first article, which is what I have done today," he told a news conference in Baghdad."I sent a letter to parliament asking for the law to be amended. Parliament said I could veto the contested first article, which is what I have done today," he told a news conference in Baghdad.
"The proposed amendment affords justice to all Iraqis abroad, in all countries, and not just those residing in, or forcefully displaced to, neighbouring countries," he added."The proposed amendment affords justice to all Iraqis abroad, in all countries, and not just those residing in, or forcefully displaced to, neighbouring countries," he added.
"Furthermore, the amendment would consecrate the concept of political pluralism and would preclude the monopolisation of the political scene by the strong electoral lists that win the elections.""Furthermore, the amendment would consecrate the concept of political pluralism and would preclude the monopolisation of the political scene by the strong electoral lists that win the elections."
Mr Hashemi, the head of the Iraqi Islamic Party, said that despite the veto he was neither against the law as a whole nor wanted to see further delays that could prevent elections being held in January.Mr Hashemi, the head of the Iraqi Islamic Party, said that despite the veto he was neither against the law as a whole nor wanted to see further delays that could prevent elections being held in January.
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 councilsDec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and new parliament, the Council of RepresentativesJan 2009: Polls for provincial councils - key test of security gainsIRAQI 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 councilsDec 2005: General elections for first full-term government and new parliament, the Council of RepresentativesJan 2009: Polls for provincial councils - key test of security gains
He believed the issue could be dealt swiftly in one session of parliament, opening the way for its final ratification by the three-man Presidency Council and allowing campaigning to begin.He believed the issue could be dealt swiftly in one session of parliament, opening the way for its final ratification by the three-man Presidency Council and allowing campaigning to begin.
A Kurdish member of the parliamentary legal committee, Khalid Shwani, said it would study the suggested changes as soon as they received them.A Kurdish member of the parliamentary legal committee, Khalid Shwani, said it would study the suggested changes as soon as they received them.
"I can't put a specific timetable on the vote because it will depend on how long the discussions take," he told the Associated Press."I can't put a specific timetable on the vote because it will depend on how long the discussions take," he told the Associated Press.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says Mr Hashemi's veto is not the only problem facing the elections - the Kurds in the north of the country have said they could boycott them altogether.The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says Mr Hashemi's veto is not the only problem facing the elections - the Kurds in the north of the country have said they could boycott them altogether.
Kurdish leaders have said they are angry that only three of the 48 extra seats in the new chamber have been allocated to the three mainly Kurdish provinces of Dohuk, Arbil and Sulaimaniya. They see it as a move to diminish their voice in Baghdad.Kurdish leaders have said they are angry that only three of the 48 extra seats in the new chamber have been allocated to the three mainly Kurdish provinces of Dohuk, Arbil and Sulaimaniya. They see it as a move to diminish their voice in Baghdad.
An election without the Kurds is hard to imagine, so more time will have to be taken up to reach a resolution, our correspondent says.An election without the Kurds is hard to imagine, so more time will have to be taken up to reach a resolution, our correspondent says.