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Iraqi election official rules out local polls

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