Iraqi leaders veto law Bush administration hailed as political breakthrough [View All]

[housewolf]

Source: Steve Lannen | McClatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD — Iraq's three-man presidency council Wednesday announced that it's vetoed legislation that U.S. officials two weeks ago hailed as significant political progress.

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The rejected bill, which sets out the political structure for Iraq's provincial governments and establishes a basis for elections in October, was only the second of 18 U.S.-set political benchmarks that the war-tore nation needs to reach.

Parliament considered it in a bundle with two other bills, a general amnesty and a budget, and approved it on Feb. 12 in what was welcomed in Washington as an example of good government, compromise and progress toward national unity. Now the question is whether parliament is willing to revise the measure.

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However, Hiltermann expressed doubt that the elections would take place as scheduled in October. "It's all up for grabs," he said. "Everything is set back."

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