Across Asia: Iraq

Election law wins approval

Iraq's president and vice-presidents have formally approved a long-awaited provincial elections law, paving the way for the vote to take place by Jan 31 next year.

The Presidency Council, consisting of President Jalal Talabani and vice-presidents Tareq al-Hashemi and Adel Abdul-Mahdi, also asked parliament to reinstate guaranteed seats on provincial councils for Christians and other minority sects.