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New Iraqi election law approved New Iraqi election law approved
(20 minutes later)
Iraq's parliament has unanimously approved a new electoral law, paving the way for elections next year.Iraq's parliament has unanimously approved a new electoral law, paving the way for elections next year.
Parliamentarians were called to vote in a special late-night session in an effort to end the political crisis. Parliamentarians were called to vote in a special late-night session to try to end a political crisis, and they voted minutes before their midnight deadline.
The speaker of parliament said an election would be held on 27 February.
No details have been made public about the new law, but it is said to have been brokered by officials from the UN and the US embassy.No details have been made public about the new law, but it is said to have been brokered by officials from the UN and the US embassy.
Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi had vetoed the previous version of the law, and Kurds had objected to parts of it. Withdrawal plan
Polls originally scheduled for 16 January were delayed due to problems with the election law.
Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi had vetoed the previous version of the law, saying it did not provide enough seats for the country's Sunni minority.
Following the parliamentary vote, he formally withdrew his veto of the election law and praised the new amendment as providing a fairer deal for Iraq's minorities.
About 4 million Sunnis fled the country to escape violence that erupted after the US-led invasion.
Debate over the electoral law had also centred around the northern, oil-rich city of Kirkuk, which is disputed between Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen.
The new parliament will be expanded from the current 275 seats to 325, said Deputy Parliament Speaker Khalid al-Attiyah.The new parliament will be expanded from the current 275 seats to 325, said Deputy Parliament Speaker Khalid al-Attiyah.
No date has been set for elections. Polls originally scheduled for 16 January have been delayed due to problems with the election law. The election is seen as a prerequisite to the US meeting its goal of pulling out combat troops by August next year, and withdrawing fully by 2011.
Debate over the electoral law had centred around the northern, oil-rich city of Kirkuk, which is disputed between Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen.
Mr Hashemi had vetoed the previous version of the law, saying it did not provide enough seats for the country's Sunni minority.
The election is seen as a prerequisite to the US meeting its goal of pulling out combat troops.