Iraq’s vital upcoming parliamentary poll has been thrown in to doubt after one of its vice presidents vetoed an important electoral law.

Tareq al-Hashemi blocked article one of the law, claiming it did not give Iraqis living abroad a big enough voice. ‘‘I do not object to all the articles of the law just article one of the law to give justice to all Iraqis living abroad,’‘ al-Hashemi said. Despite the delay, the vice president believes the issue could be quickly resolved. However, electoral officials say preparations for the January ballot – an important milestone for Iraq as it tries to stand on its own two feet – have been suspended until the law can be amended. Al-Hashemi is a Sunni Arab and the majority of Iraqis living abroad are thought to come from Iraq’s once dominant Sunni Muslim community. They fled following the sectarian violence that was unleashed from 2003.More about: Iraq

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