Iraqi Lawmakers Still Stalled Over Kirkuk Power-Sharing Proposals

05 August 2008 -- Iraqi lawmakers failed again Tuesday to resolve a dispute about power-sharing proposals for the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Khalid al-Attiya told reporters they postponed a vote on the draft local elections law, scheduled for today, to Wednesday.

He said lawmakers are considering a United Nations proposal that calls for holding local elections across the country, but leaves Kirkuk's elections for a later date.

Iraq's parliament has been debating a draft local elections law that would allocate seats in Kirkuk's provincial council equally among its ethnic groups - Kurds, Arabs and Turkomen. Iraqi Kurds and their allies want to keep their majority in the assembly.

Meanwhile, Iraqi and coalition forces announced they have discovered multiple weapons caches, including two Iranian-made rockets, in the Baghdad area since Monday.

Late last month, British Defense Secretary Des Browne said Iran's influence in Iraq is declining as the Iraqi government improves its security capabilities.

Britain has accused Iran of arming and training Shi'ite militias in Iraq that have attacked coalition forces. Iran denies the charges.

Source: VOA News

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