Official: Iraq faces election delay

BAGHDAD — An Iraqi election official says a political dispute has made it "impossible" to hold elections in January as required by the constitution, and that a delay is certain.

Qassim al-Aboudi, a senior official on the state election commission, said Tuesday that there is not enough time to organize the elections in January because of the deadlock over an election law.

Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, had vetoed the law because he wanted more seats for Iraqis abroad, most of whom are Sunnis. Iraq's parliament amended the law with the backing of Shiite and Kurdish legislators, but Sunni Arabs said they would get even fewer seats with the change.

Al-Hashemi's office indicated that he would veto the law for a second time.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iraqi vice president has indicated he will veto an election law for a second time, deepening political uncertainty in a country struggling to recover from years of war.

The dispute means that national polling scheduled for January is almost certain to be delayed.

Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, had vetoed the law because he wanted more seats for Iraqis abroad, most of whom are Sunnis. Iraq's parliament amended the law with the backing of Shiite and Kurdish legislators, but Sunni Arabs said they would get even fewer seats with the change.

On Tuesday, al-Hashemi's office said he would deal with the law the same way that he dealt with the last one.

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