LOC14:59
11:59 GMT
By Mohamed al-Ghazi
BAGHDAD, Sept 27 (KUNA) -- It is very difficult for Iraq to hold local
elections this year, the election watchdog chairman said here Saturday.
"It is not possible to hold elections this year," Faraj al-Haidari told
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), predicting that local polls could be conducted at
the advent of next year.
The election law, which has recently been given the thumbs up at
parliament, still needs to be approved by the president of the republic and
then taken back to the parliament before being published on the official
gazette, he said.
Al-Haidari's remarks came after Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said
his party would press for holding provincial polls ahead of the end of this
year.
Al-Hashemi considered the parliamentary approval of the election bill as
the "beginning of a solution" to the political cul-de-sac in the country.
Local elections are hoped to produce provincial councils that will enjoy
much competence and power as per the provincial law that was passed by the
parliament last year.
As per the law, the election watchdog is required to set a date for the
local election ahead of January 31st, 2009.
The Iraqi parliament okayed the provincial election law on September 24 in
a very significant step. (end)
mhg.mt
KUNA 271459 Sep 08NNNN