Finally! Iraq Election Law Passes

This is surprising as the parliament seemed deadlocked on the Kirkuk question among others. As the article points out the US was putting a lot of pressure on the parliament to pass a law because it is important that the election go ahead in terms of withdrawing US troops.

This article is noteworthy for what it leaves out. It says nothing of the issue of whether voting will be for individuals or closed lists and fails to mention as well whether the referendum on the SOFA will go ahead. If there are closed lists or no referendum on the SOFA there could very well be boycotts and renewed conflict.

Iraq electoral law passes, sets up national vote
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA (AP) - 13 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Iraq's parliament passed on Sunday a long-delayed law in a crucial step to setting up nationwide elections, which the head of the electoral commission expected would still be held in January.

The decision appeared to resolve a key sticking point - who will be allowed to vote in the disputed, oil-rich city of Kirkuk. U.S. Ambassador Christopher HillChristopher Hill could be seen shuttling between various political factions before the law's passage, showing Washington's concern's over the debate and whether an election delay could hold up an American troop withdrawal.

...The U.S. ambassador, speaking to reporters after the vote, said the American troop drawdown will proceed as scheduled. Military commanders have said the U.S. troop withdrawal would start in earnest about 60 days after the vote, the idea being that the country would be on stable footing by then.

Under the president's plan, all U.S. combat troops will be out of the country by the end of August 2010, leaving about 50,000 trainers and support troops. Those troops would leave by the end of 2011.

Once the legislation is approved by the president and his two vice presidents, the election commission will decide how many days are needed to hold the vote. Then the commission will send a letter to parliament and to the prime minister to inform them of their decision, al-Haidari said.

The law's passage had been repeatedly delayed by sharp disagreements over how voting would take place in the northern city of Kirkuk, claimed by both Arabs and Kurds and a major flashpoint in the country.