Iraqi officials approve new elections bill

BAGHDAD, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The Iraqi presidential council Friday approved new legislation on provincial and municipal elections, an official said.

The proposal includes controversial Article 50, which required specific quotas for ethnic minorities in the provincial and municipal councils, KUNA, the Kuwait News Agency, reported.

While meeting in al-Sulaimaniya, the presidential council considered a range of issues, including how to avoid any minority group from being excluded, said Laith Shibr, a spokesman for First Vice President Adel Abul-Mahdi.

The legislation now moves to the Parliament for its consideration. If approved, the bill paves the way for elections before the end of January.