New disputes delay Iraqi oil bill

Attempts to pass a key oil law sought by the United States were snarled once more today by deep differences between Iraq’s Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leaders, delaying parliament debate on the benchmark legislation despite the prime minister’s claims of a breakthrough.

Despite heavy US pressure, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has struggled for months to get members of his coalition together behind the bill, part of a long-delayed political package that the Bush administration hopes will reconcile Iraq’s Sunni Arab minority with the government, reduce support for the insurgency and ease the country’s violence.