Iraqi Official Proposes January 21 Election Date
By VOA News
09 November 2009
An Iraqi election official has proposed that the nation's parliamentary poll be held on January 21, five days later than previously scheduled.
Parliament cleared the way for the vote by passing an election law that is required for national elections to be held in January. After weeks of deadlock, the law won approval Sunday from 141 of 195 Iraqi lawmakers present.
Iraq's electoral commission chief, Faraj al-Haidari, said Monday that the presidency council must approve the newly proposed election date.
Lawmakers Sunday overcame a key dispute about the way to conduct the election in northern Iraq's ethnically mixed, oil-rich region of Kirkuk. The new law makes the votes in Kirkuk subject to a special review to determine if there was an unusual increase in registered voters.
At issue is the Iraqi Kurds' desire to incorporate Kirkuk into their autonomous region in northern Iraq. Many of Kirkuk's Arab and Turkmen residents oppose such a move and want the region to remain under the control of Iraq's central government.
Arabs and Turkmen claim Kurds have moved into Kirkuk to tip the balance in their favor.
At the White House, President Barack Obama welcomed the passage of the election law, calling it an important milestone toward ensuring lasting peace in Iraq. He also said it will pave the way for an orderly withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by next September.
Iraq's upcoming national elections are a crucial test as the country takes more responsibility for its own security ahead of a gradual withdrawal of U.S. forces.
U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill said Sunday a January election would allow the U.S. to withdraw its troops as scheduled.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had warned that Iraq could spiral into a new cycle of chaos if the elections do not go ahead.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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