Iraq benchmark legislation stalled

BAGHDAD, May 13 (UPI) -- A proposed oil law that U.S. President George W. Bush calls vital to ending Iraq's civil strife is in serious trouble, The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

The plan, which has yet to be debated by Iraq's Parliament, is seen by critics as flawed with little chance of being approved this month, as Bush had hoped, the newspaper said.

"We have two clocks -- the Baghdad clock and the Washington clock -- and this is a perfect example," said Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish lawmaker from northern Iraq.

Even if the oil bill were passed in its present form, it still would not resolve the question of how to divide Iraq's oil revenue among Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni regions -- or how much foreign investment to allow -- the Times said.

Republican leaders in Congress have warned that congressional support for the president's policies in Iraq could erode further if the oil bill and other benchmarks are not met by the end of summer. The other benchmarks include holding provincial elections in Iraq, revising Iraq's constitution and lifting a ban on former Baath Party members from holding government and military positions.