BAGHDAD, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Kurdish lawmakers in the Iraqi Parliament Monday rejected amendments to the provincial elections law regarding Kirkuk province.
Parliament stalled last week over passing legislation to move forward with provincial elections originally scheduled for October. U.N. officials had suggested moving ahead with the vote in all provinces but Kirkuk until a committee could examine any potential status of the oil-rich region.
Lawmakers are divided over Kirkuk, with some favoring annexation by the Kurdistan Regional Government and others favoring joining up with greater Iraq.
Members of the Kurdistan Alliance Monday said they were not informed by U.N. officials of any provisions and therefore will refuse any amendments to the provincial elections law, Voices of Iraq reported.
"There is no reason for any amendment," said Kurdish lawmaker Abdul Mohsen al-Saadon.
Parliament had been discussing proposals submitted by the U.N. envoy to Iraq, Staffan de Mistura.
Arab and Turkomen lawmakers stormed out of a parliamentary session Sunday over similar issues.
The Kurdistan Alliance had protested secret balloting over the provincial elections in July. A measure had passed July 22, but Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, vetoed the bill.
