From Deseret News archives:
Iraq OKs critical law on elections
Voting in the provinces is likely early next year
Approval of the law fulfills a major U.S. government benchmark and marks an important advance in the Iraqi political sphere, which has lagged behind improvements in security.
Despite the law's stated deadline of Jan. 31 for elections in 17 of Iraq's 18 provinces, there may be a further postponement, according to the Independent High Electoral Commission. "It's not possible to implement the provincial election this year because the time left is not enough to finish the work plan," said Qassim al-Aboudi, the commission's executive director.
The commission has yet to receive a list of candidates, which it then must approve, and it needs to hire some 300,000 people to staff the vote on election day.
"We are doing our best, and we're working very hard to prepare everything before January 31. But if we can't finish our work we will inform the parliament and ask them to set another date for the election," al-Aboudi said.
Kurds have long demanded that Kirkuk, in northern province of Tamim, be absorbed into the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of the provinces of Irbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dahuk. Saddam Hussein had settled thousands of Arabs throughout the province during his regime, forcing Kurds and others from their homes. Now Kurds have reversed the process, and Arabs are being forced to leave their homes.
The solution hammered out over the summer was to postpone a resolution of the Kirkuk issue as a special committee studies it.
After approving the law, the presidency council decided to send a separate bill to parliament to restore a deleted article that assures minority representation in provincial assemblies. Christians across Iraq objected to the removal of the clause and even staged a demonstration on Monday to demand representation.
The council plans to propose the law to parliament this week, said Nasir al-Ani the chairman.
Some powerful parties fear coming provincial elections will dethrone them.
In Anbar, the Awakening movement, largely credited with fighting off al-Qaida in Iraq and stabilizing the western province, sees the elections as an opportunity to rise to political power. But its rise will likely mean the demise of the Iraqi Islamic Party, the largest Sunni party in Iraq.
The Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council is the country's most powerful Shiite party.
Even with final approval of the elections law, other political hurdles remain. The parliament has been unable to pass an oil revenue-sharing law or amendments to the constitution, both long overdue.
(McClatchy Newspapers special correspondent Laith Hammoudi contributed to this article.)
(c) 2008, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau on the World Wide Web at www.mcclatchydc.com.
Comments
- Hecklers upstage Ariz. sheriff 1:05 p.m.
- FSU coach Bobby Bowden to retire 1:04 p.m.
- November auto sales struggle 1:03 p.m.
- Trial set for accused bogus bidder 12:58 p.m.
- Philpot may run for Congress 12:57 p.m.
- Did Eagar imply Palin endorsement? 12:42 p.m.
- Obama: More troops with deadline 12:28 p.m.
- New 3rd District judge appointed 12:12 p.m.
- Richmond woman dies after crash 12:10 p.m.
- Prep swim rankings 12:05 p.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
900 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
482 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
395 - Max Hall issues apology
385 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
331 - Utes won't respond to Hall
270 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
159 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
124 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120
My husband was teaching his 6th-grade class in Salt Lake last year when...
Yepper's, you betcha, (as Sarah Palin would say), the same DNA is running in...
Wouldn't you think the victim would have been killed INSIDE the home if he...
The bottom line is no matter how much you don't like the other team you don't...
I HATE THE U | 12:02 p.m. You all have similar stories because they are...
This is a really cool story, thanks for writing it 7 congrats to the family.
No matter what the cougs do - they will be linked to the Vegas bowl - enjoy...
JT is an excellent player and I hate when people bag on him. Yes, he has poor...
What does scouting actually have to do with being awesome?... Answer:...
'And your last sad attempt, the James Early Ray "quote" is simply a lie.' -...
"One thing you can't hide, is when you're crippled inside." John Lennon.



You can be the first to comment on this story.