The northern oil city of Kirkuk will become the latest community in Iraq to edge toward democracy next week when it installs a new municipal council, the U.S. military commander in the region said Saturday. The body will be elected by 300 community leaders chosen by U.S. authorities, said Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division. They will elect 24 delegates to form a city council, along with six other members hand-picked by Odierno to represent the business community. A mayor and his deputy will be chosen by the council — subject to Odierno's approval.
| Personally, I think Baghdad is going to be the last place to return to normality... |
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