Iraq deputies pass landmark bills
Iraqi MPs have made an breakthrough in parliament by passing three important laws after weeks of delays and brinkmanship between rival factions.
The legislation sets a budget, provides for a limited amnesty for detainees, and defines the relationship between Baghdad and local authorities.
The third law is necessary before provincial elections can be held.
The move comes a day after the assembly was adjourned amid acrimony and calls for its dissolution.
Speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani had complained that distrust was paralysing the chamber.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that, by bundling up the bills and passing them together, the vote has satisfied all three main groups: the Kurds who wanted the budget, the Sunni Arabs who wanted the amnesty and the Shia Muslims who are keen to press ahead with provincial elections.
Passing the bills had been among 18 benchmarks set by Washington to foster political reconciliation. US ambassador Ryan Crocker called them each "very significant accomplishments".
The $48bn state budget financed mainly through oil revenues was meant to have been agreed before the end of last year.
The amnesty bill will benefit many of an estimated 25,000 detainees held in US and Iraqi prisons, if they have not been charged with or convicted of violent crimes.
A large proportion of detainees are thought to be suspected Sunni Arab insurgents who are held without being charged.
Story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7243434.stm)
WWNS
What Would Nancy say?
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z128/bhmason_album/images-2.jpg)
Iraq is a failure.