IRAQI ELECTION LAW

Iraqi lawmakers approved an amended version of the election law that would govern the country’s national elections slated for January. The lawmakers changed the system for distributing seats, forcing the Sunni lawmakers to walk out before the vote on the amendments. During the past few days, the parliamentary political blocs were holding intense talks in a bid to agree on the bill that was vetoed by Hashimi, who demanded more seats for Iraqis living abroad. The amended bill still has to be approved by the three-member presidency council. “We congratulate the Iraqi people and say that all Iraqis whether inside or outside the country will be able to vote for the seats of their provinces,” Bahaa al-Araji, a Shiite lawmaker, told reporters at a press conference after the parliament session.