Asia-Pacific
Clinton says Iraqi election might be delayed
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-11-24 01:54
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is holding out the possibility that Iraq's national election could be delayed beyond January because of a dispute over the allocation of seats in parliament.
 Iraqi Shiite protesters chant slogans against the veto made by Iraq's Sunni Arab vice president Tariq al-Hashemi on the election law in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad,on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. [Agencies] |
Clinton told reporters at the State Department Monday that US officials are involved in trying to help Iraqi politicians sort out their differences over an elections law that must pass before the vote can be held.
The election is supposed to be conducted in January. Clinton mentioned no specific dates but said the election "might slip" as a result of the continuing dispute over the elections law. She expressed confidence that the voting eventually will be held.
