Electoral law a 'decisive moment' for Iraq: White House
Washington: The White House has welcomed
the approval of Iraq's electoral law, calling it a "decisive
moment for Iraq's democracy."
"The United States welcomes the resolution adopted
December 6 by Iraq's Council of Representatives regarding the
election law," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a
statement.
"This legislative action will allow Iraq to hold
national elections within Iraq's constitutional framework," he
added yesterday.
"It is a decisive moment for Iraq's democracy and we
congratulate the Iraqi people and their elected
representatives."
Iraqi lawmakers finally approved a new version of a
stalled electoral law late yesterday, paving the way for
parliamentary polls to be held early next year.
No definitive date has yet been set for the election
which had originally been scheduled for January 16 but was
delayed because of the failure by MPs to agree on the new law.
The new law will expand Iraq's parliament from 275
seats to 325, including three additional seats for provinces
in northern Iraq's autonomous region of Kurdistan, and one
fewer reserved seat.
Gibbs said US President Barack Obama and Vice
President Joseph Biden earlier Sunday spoke with Kurdistan
Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani.
"The President and the Vice President confirmed the US
commitment to a long-term relationship with Iraq, including
the KRG," the spokesman added.
PTI