Iraqi provincial elections likely early next year

By Leila Fadel • McClatchy Newspapers • October 8, 2008 BAGHDAD, Iraq — The presidency council passed a law today to organize provincial elections that were originally scheduled for Oct. 1 and now are likely to be held sometime early next year. Approval of the law fulfills a U.S. government benchmark and marks an advance in the Iraqi political sphere, which has lagged behind improvements in security. Despite the law’s stated deadline of Jan. 31 for elections in 17 of Iraq’s 18 provinces, there may be a further postponement, according to the Independent High Electoral Commission. “It’s not possible to implement the provincial election this year because the time left is not enough to finish the work plan,” said Qassim al-Aboudi, the commission’s executive director. The commission has yet to receive a list of candidates, which... [read full story]