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Kurd president says Iraq vote bill a conspiracy
(AFP)

5 August 2008
ARBIL, Iraq - The president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region Massud Barzani has sharply criticised a provincial election law as a 'conspiracy', deepening a political rift over the oil-rich Kirkuk province.

"After the long talks we held it was clear for us that what happened on July 22 was a big conspiracy and very dangerous for the democratic and constitutional process of Iraq, in particular against the Kurds," Barzani said.

Barzani's comments came as the Iraqi national parliament was set to meet on Tuesday to try to resolve disputes over the controversial election bill, eagerly awaited by the United States.

The legislation aims to govern a provincial poll scheduled for October, but it has hit a major snag over how the council governing the multi-ethnic region of Kirkuk, claimed by both Kurds and Arabs, should be constituted.

Iraq's 275-member parliament on July 22 adopted a draft bill which would have allowed the provincial polls to go ahead as scheduled on October 1.

But the draft faced strong opposition with major blocs in parliament -- mainly Kurds and some Shiite ministers -- storming out in protest and leaving only about 140 MPs to vote.

The vote forced the three-member presidency council, headed by President Jalal Talabani, to send the legislation back to MPs for reworking, where it remains stalled.

 

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