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Iraq passes province election law Iraq deal over province elections
(41 minutes later)
The Iraqi parliament has passed a law which paves the way for provincial elections, reports say. The Iraqi parliament has passed a law which paves the way for provincial elections.
The decision brings to an end months of debate over how the law would be applied to the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.The decision brings to an end months of debate over how the law would be applied to the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
The law was passed unanimously but must now go before the country's three-man presidency council, headed by President Jalal Talabani.The law was passed unanimously but must now go before the country's three-man presidency council, headed by President Jalal Talabani.
A deadline for elections in 14 Iraqi provinces has now been set for the end of January, says the AFP news agency. Agreement over the drafting of the laws has been seen as a key part of political reform in Iraq.
Control of Kirkuk is disputed between Iraqi Arabs, Kurds and ethnic Turkmen. Correspondents say provincial elections are part of an American-backed plan to reconcile rival groups, particularly the Sunnis, who boycotted the last round of provincial elections in 2005.
The January date excludes three Kurdish provinces and Kirkuk, said AFP. Control of Kirkuk is disputed between Iraqi Arabs, Kurds and ethnic Turkmen, and disagreements over how to treat the city held up debate in parliament.
Parliament has now set a deadline of 31 January 2009 for elections to be held in 14 of Iraq's provinces.
However, that excludes Kirkuk and three other Kurdish provinces, which will hold elections at a later date, reports say.