Subscribe 

Iraq PM warns of poll delay after election chiefs quit

Iraq's premier warned Wednesday that April legislative polls may be delayed as he pushed for a controversial election law to be amended after electoral chiefs suddenly quit complaining of political interference. The electoral officials are pressing for the same reform to the law ahead of the scheduled April 30 vote, amid doubts the polls can […]

Ammar Karim reports for Agence France-Presse:

Iraq's premier warned Wednesday that April legislative polls may be delayed as he pushed for a controversial election law to be amended after electoral chiefs suddenly quit complaining of political interference.

The electoral officials are pressing for the same reform to the law ahead of the scheduled April 30 vote, amid doubts the polls can in any case be held countrywide as anti-government fighters still control a town on Baghdad's doorstep.

Much is at stake as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki bids for a third term with his security credentials badly damaged by a surge in violence to levels not seen since 2008, and the country battles to rebuild its conflict-battered economy and boost oil production.