Law passed, Iraq sets date for election

BAGHDAD: Iraqis will vote in a general election on Jan 21 now that parliament has passed a law needed for a vote to take place, the head of the country's electoral commission said yesterday.

The assembly ended weeks of disagreement about the fate of the disputed city of Kirkuk to pass the electoral law late on Sunday.

The ballot was originally meant to take place on Jan 16 but electoral authorities said the delay in passing the law had made it impossible to organize it by then.