UN envoy to Iraq on Saturday met with Iraq's top Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani, and urged Iraqis to move on a provincial election law which has been delayed by differences over Kirkuk, according to reports from the holy city of Najaf.
"It is necessary that the provincial election is held at the end of this year or at least by early next year," Staffan de Mistura told reporters after meeting Sistani outside his house in Najaf.
"In my opinion, there is no reason to delay the elections, as there is no reason not to enact the election law," Mistura said.
Iraq was due to go on provincial elections in Oct. 1, but the country's parliamentary blocs failed to reach an agreement in time over controversial provincial election bill because of differences over the oil-rich province of Kirkuk in northern Iraq.
Mistura also warned that if the provincial election is not held, there would be risks that the provincial councils would be illegal when their term is over.
On July 22, the Iraqi parliament approved the law although the Kurds walked out protesting a secret vote exclusively held over an article dealing with the disputed oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
Two days later, the Iraqi presidency council rejected the bill after a meeting held between Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi.
According to Iraq's constitution, the draft law should be delivered to the presidency council for an unanimous approval. The council consists of President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni Arab and Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, a Shiite.
Then the parliament adjourned for summer recess, from Aug. 6 to Sept. 9.
Earlier, officials in the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission warned that failure to pass the controversial bill could delay the nationwide vote until next year.
Source: Xinhua
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