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| Iraq |
| Iraqi parliament fails to agree on election law |
| 2009-10-22 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Iraqi MPs failed on Wednesday to agree a new electoral law intended to establish more transparency for elections due in January because of a stalemate over Kirkuk, casting serious doubt on whether the poll can be held on schedule. The Jan. 16 parliamentary election is seen as crucial for consolidating democracy after years of war. The United Nations envoy to Iraq, Ad Melkert, warned that time was critical and that further delays in passing the legislation may call into doubt not only the date, but also the credibility of the result. "It is the collective responsibility of members of parliament to now rise to the occasion and be ready to account to the Iraqi people, who expect to exercise their right to express their preference in the upcoming elections," he said. The elections will be a critical test as Iraq emerges from more than six years of sectarian conflict unleashed by the U.S. invasion in 2003 and begins to stand on its own feet ahead of a full U.S. withdrawal by the end of 2011. "This situation is so embarrassing," said Faraj al-Haidari, head of the electoral commission. He said the body could wait at most another week before the election date would be in doubt. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Que the "Damascus" scene from "Lawrence of Arabia"... |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-10-22 12:17 |
| #1 Casbah haggling. Same as it ever was. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-10-22 10:09 |