Deal to allow Iraqi national elections

BAGHDAD, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The deputy speaker of the Iraqi Parliament said a deal reached by top Iraqi leaders will allow for the first national elections in Iraq since 2005.

Parliamentary Deputy Speaker Khalid al-Attiya said the Parliament approved the deal Sunday night thanks to a closed-door session following of months of discussions on the controversial proposal, The New York Times reported Monday.

"It is a great achievement for Iraq," Attiya said of the deal that initially faced opposition in Iraq.

Government officials said despite opposition, the election law deal was agreed upon by Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders.

Previously, Iraq failed to pass an election law on 11 separate occasions and an ensuing Nov. 8 agreement was ultimately vetoed by Tariq al-Hashimi, one of Iraq's two vice presidents.

The Times said the main point of contention on previous election law deals was the division of Iraqi Parliament seats among the various sects in Iraq.