U.S. vice president urges Iraq to resolve vote issue

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Vice President Joseph Biden on Saturday contacted top Iraqi politicians to praise their efforts in seeking a compromise solution to their election scheduling problems.

“Vice President Biden spoke today to Iraqi leaders to commend them for working together to find a solution to the election law impasse,” the White House said in a statement.

“He encouraged them to finalize an arrangement that would be fair to all sides and that would allow national elections, as desired by the Iraqi people and as outlined in Iraq's constitution,” it added.

Iraqi legislators approved a law regarding the election earlier this month that vetoed by Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi.

An amended version of the law is currently before Iraq's three-member presidential council, composed of President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and vice presidents Hashemi, a Sunni, and Adel Abdel Mehdi, a Shiite.

Only one of them needs to veto the bill for it to be sent back to parliament.

The United States has put pressure on Iraqi politicians to avoid a delay as Washington seeks to ensure that the pullout of thousands of troops stationed in the country goes ahead on schedule.

Iraq's constitution requires that the poll be held by January 31.

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