BAGHDAD (AP) — A top aide to Iraq's Shiite spiritual leader is calling on the country's fractious political blocs to solve a crisis over a key election law that threatens to delay national polls planned for January.
Sheik Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalaie is the representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the holy city of Karbala. He spoke Friday as part of his regular sermon.
Al-Karbalaie says al-Sistani is worried there might not be enough time to hold the elections if lawmakers don't break the deadlock soon.
Parliament is to vote Saturday on how to resolve the impasse after Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi vetoed the legislation this week.
Al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, wants more seats allocated for Iraqis living abroad, many of whom are Sunni.
