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"This is an important milestone as the Iraqi people continue to take responsibility for their future," Obama said. (Reuters) |
BAGHDAD – Iraqis will likely vote in a general election on January 21 now that parliament has finally passed a long-delayed crucial election law.
"I don't think that date will change," Faraj al-Haidari, head of the electoral commission, told Reuters on Monday, November 9.
He said the vote date need to be approved by the presidency council of President Jalal Talabani and two vice-presidents.
The ballot was originally meant to take place on January 16 but electoral authorities said the delay in passing the law had made it impossible to organize it by then.
Iraqi MPs ended weeks of political wrangling on Sunday, November 8, to pass the long-delayed electoral law.
The law had been held up by disagreement over how to conduct the vote in disputed Kirkuk, a northern city that is surrounded by oilfields.
Kirkuk is viewed by ethnic Kurds as their ancient capital, and they want to make it part of their northern region.
Kurdish leaders wanted to use up-to-date voter rolls in the election to reflect an increase in their numbers there since the 2003 US-led invasion.
Arabs and Turkmen say the city should remain under central government authority and believe Kurds have deliberately tipped the demographic balance.
They hoped older voter records would be used and scrutiny of voters' registrations would be guaranteed.
The new law used current voter registrations but made the election results subject to a review if there were an unusual increase in registered voters in the past five years.
The elections will be the second national poll since the ouster of the Saddam Hussein regime.
Haidari said the next parliament would have 323 seats compared with 275 now to take account of an increase in population since the last election in 2005.
Milestone
US President Barack Obama lauded the new law passage as an important step towards ensuring a lasting peace in war-ravaged Iraq.
"This is an important milestone as the Iraqi people continue to take responsibility for their future," he said late Sunday.
"Today's step forward is another reminder that these enemies of the Iraqi people will fail. The US will continue to stand with Iraq as a strong partner and as a friend."
Prolonged arguing over the law had cast doubt on the US military's plans to end combat operations in Iraq by August 31, 2010 ahead of a full withdrawal by the end of 2011.
Obama cited "tough challenges" and "difficult days to come" in Iraq.
"But this agreement advances the political progress that can bring lasting peace and unity to Iraq and allow for the orderly and responsible transition of American combat troops out of Iraq by next September."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the new election law.
"These elections will be a crucial opportunity to advance national reconciliation and contribute to Iraq's political progress."
He appealed to all political blocs and their leaders to demonstrate "true statesmanship during the election campaign and participate in a spirit of national unity."
Ban reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to support Iraq's electoral commission tasked with organizing the ballot.
He also encouraged the Iraqi people to participate in a process that will shape their country's future.
The election is viewed as crucial to consolidating the war-torn nation's fledgling democracy.
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