Date set for Iraqi general election

Iraq’s next general election will be held on January 30.

The deputy speaker of Iraq’s parliament said the legislature received a ruling from the country’s federal court setting the date, which is about a month later than expected.

Khalid al-Attiyah said the court’s ruling was in response to a request by the 275-member parliament.

Iraq’s last general election was held in December 2005, but the elected legislature did not hold its first session until March 2006.

Election commission chairman Faraj al-Haidari said January 30 was one of two dates suggested by his organisation to the federal court.