Iraq election panel offers a new date

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s election authority proposed Sunday to delay important provincial balloting in an apparent sign of frustration over a political impasse that has stalled preparations for voting planned for this fall.

The provincial election plan — strongly backed by Washington — would shift more political powers to regions and is viewed by Sunni Arabs as path to gain more influence over decisions by the Shiite-led government.

U.S. officials see the voting as another key step in national reconciliation.

But any prolonged setbacks could slow momentum for giving Sunnis a greater voice in political and security affairs — considered essential to stabilize the country and maintain pressure on al-Qaida in Iraq and other militant factions.

Iraq’s efforts to heal sectarian rifts are likely to be discussed during the visit to Baghdad by presidential candidate Barack Obama, who wrapped up a stop in Afghanistan on Sunday.

But the election plans remain snared in one of Iraq’s thorniest political dilemmas: the future of the oil-rich northern region of Kirkuk.

Iraq’s Kurds, who control a semi-autonomous region in the north, have held up parliament passage of a law to allocate funds and set guidelines for the provincial elections, at the moment scheduled for Oct. 1.

They oppose a proposed equal distribution of provincial council seats in the Kirkuk region, which is outside the Kurdish territory but considered by many Kurds to be part of their historical land.

The Kurds also are pressing the government to hold a long-delayed referendum in Kirkuk on whether to join the Kurdish area.

The Election Commission, in a statement distributed to lawmakers and others, said there is no longer time to organize the elections on schedule “according to international standards.” It offered a possible new date of Dec. 22 for the voting in most areas of the country.

The Iraqi government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, told The Associated Press that the Cabinet plans to meet Monday to discuss election dates.

Nearly 1,700 new police graduates — many part of Saddam’s security forces — paraded Sunday in the largest graduating class from the Baghdad Police College.