Iraqi lawmakers have approved a law that clears the way for parliamentary elections early next year. Parliament approved the law late Sunday in a nearly unanimous vote.
The new law expands parliament from the current 275 seats to 325 seats. The bill took shape during several months of intense debate over how much parliamentary representation should be given to Iraq's minority groups.
Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi said the law resolves his objections. He had demanded revisions to give his Sunni minority group a greater political voice. The vice president vetoed an earlier version of the law that did not meet this condition. He had threatened to veto it again on Sunday unless his Sunni bloc reached an agreement with the other groups in parliament.