Iraq's presidency agrees on elections law

Iraq’s presidential council has agreed on a law which paves the way for US-backed provincial elections to be held by the end of January, a spokesman said today.

The spokesman for the panel, Nasser al-Ani, said the law had gained unanimous approval from the three-member panel and would be signed later today.

Al-Ani says the panel led by President Jalal Talabani decided to approve the law on Monday but did not sign it due to Islamic holidays.

The move is a breakthrough for US-led efforts to promote reconciliation, although two divisive issues were not addressed: the status of the oil-rich region around Kirkuk and representation of minorities.