Talabani denounces election law


Mr Talabani a Kurd chairs a council with Shia and Sunni vice-presidents


Iraq's president has denounced a draft law paving the way for provincial elections after MPs adopted it despite a walkout by the Kurdish bloc.
President Jalal Talabani who is himself Kurd says he is confident the three-member presidential council which he chairs will not approve it.
Mr Talabani said he could not agree to a law approved by only 127 out of 275 MPs and he wanted it reconsidered.
Elections were scheduled for 1 October but are now likely to be delayed.
Correspondents say this would be a blow to the outgoing US administration of President George W Bush which sees the elections as a aaa step to national reconciliation between Iraq's divided communities.
The parliament's 54-member Kurdish bloc and some Shia MPs boycotted the vote.
The Kurds opposed the bill because of objections to clauses about the oil-rich Kirkuk province which is claimed by both Arabs and Kurds. Some MPs have raised objections that the vote was secret in violation of parliamentary bylaws. The presidency council the president and a Shia and a Sunni vice-president has the power to veto parliamentary legislation.