Iraqi election law passed, but veto looms

BAGHDAD, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- An election law passed Monday by the Iraqi Parliament faces another veto as it heads to a three-member presidency council for approval.

Iraqi lawmakers had managed to settle lingering issues related to the ballot system and concerns over the vote in the ethnically divided city of Kirkuk.

Last week Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni, vetoed a section of the law dealing with the number of parliamentary seats awarded to minority ethnic groups, smaller parties and Iraqi refugees living abroad.

Lawmakers managed to revise and pass the law Monday. The latest measure includes equal voting rights to Iraqi exiles and refugees. It also says the voter rolls based on data from 2005 will be increased 2.5 percent to reflect an estimated population growth.

It does not, however, increase the number of parliamentary seats awarded to minorities, internally displaced or refugees to 15 percent of the total number of seats available as demanded by Hashemi, the Voices of Iraq news agency reports

The law passed by Parliament on Monday now heads back to Hashemi, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Medhi for approval.

Officials with Hashemi's office said it was likely the vice president would veto the measure again.

Iraqi law mandates a parliamentary vote by January. Any delays could cast doubt over U.S. military plans to pull out of the country, though top military generals said there was enough time to arrange for a timely withdrawal.