Key part of Iraqi election law vetoed

Iraq's Sunni Arab Vice President has vetoed part of a key election law, throwing national polls slated for January, and a planned US troop withdrawal, into question.

Tariq al-Hashemi announced that he is sending part of the law back to parliament to be amended. As one of three members of Iraq's presidential council, al-Hashemi holds veto power over legislation. It was not immediately clear when Iraqi parliament would take up the issue.

Iraq's lawmakers haggled for weeks over the election legislation before finally passing it on November 8th, much to the relief of Iraqi political leaders and the United States.

Now, al-Hashemi's move derails Washington's plans to withdraw all combat troops by the end of August. The US military had planned to draw down forces about 60 days after the election.