Iraq Parliament: End Election Crisis   11/21 10:01

   BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraqi lawmakers on Saturday sought a compromise in a dispute 
over an election law that was vetoed by a vice president, throwing national 
polls slated for January into question.

   Parliament had planned to vote Saturday on how to resolve the issue, but 
delayed the proceeding until Sunday while lawmakers attempted to find a 
solution acceptable to all political blocs in a nation marked by ethnic and 
sectarian divisions.

   Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, vetoed the legislation 
earlier this week because he wants more seats allocated for Iraqis living 
abroad, most of whom are Sunnis who fled the war. The demand reflects a sense 
of insecurity among many Sunnis who dominated Iraq under Saddam Hussein, but 
now must contend with a resurgent Shiite majority.

   Lawmakers have the option of sending the same law back to the presidency 
council --- where it is likely to be vetoed again --- or amending the bill to 
address al-Hashemi's concerns.

   Parliament can override a second veto with a three-fifths majority, but 
lawmakers were trying to craft an amendment that would satisfy rival factions 
and avoid the divisive and time-consuming impact of another veto.

   The constitution requires the election to be held by the end of January, and 
a delay could undermine Iraq's fledgling democracy and fragile institutions. 
The United States has tied the pace of its troop withdrawal to the election 
date, but the top American commander in Iraq says the schedule is on track for 
now.

   Parliament Speaker Ayad al-Samarraie announced that the vote in the 275-seat 
parliament on whether to send the law back to the three-member presidency had 
been delayed until Sunday.

   "We apologize to the Iraqi people and the lawmakers because a consensus 
suggestion was supposed to be presented amending the vetoed items, but they 
haven't reached an agreement yet," al-Samarie said.

   The national elections are a key marker in Iraq's struggle for political 
stability, and the deadlock over the election law is troubling to Iraqis who 
are keen to have a say in their country's future.

   Currently, the law says 5 percent of the 323 seats in the next parliament 
should be allotted to groups including minorities and Iraqi expatriates. 
Al-Hashemi has said the percentage should be increased to 15.

   Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish lawmaker, said one proposal that was discussed 
Saturday would take the middle ground and allot 10 percent as national seats.

   Kurdish leaders have also raised objections about the 2010 elections, saying 
the three northern provinces they control should get more seats in the next 
parliament. Lawmakers discussed those complaints on Saturday, but no solution 
was reached.


(KA)