Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi, a Shiite, called on Mahmoud Mashhadani, the speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, to act quickly to pass the laws when lawmakers return from summer recess Sept. 9, Voices of Iraq said Wednesday.

"The Parliament will have much to do to pass crucial laws, like the draft law on the security agreement with the United States, the provincial council elections law and the 2009 budget," a vice presidential statement said.

Advisers close to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the government would send the draft security deal set to replace the expiring U.N. mandate for Iraq to the Parliament within 10 days.

While the deal does not require approval from U.S. lawmakers, the security pact must pass the 275-member Parliament.

Several Iraqi lawmakers say the draft provision will be met with skepticism over several points, notably the applicability of Iraqi laws for American soldiers and foreign security contractors.

On the elections law, a deal had passed July 22 by 127 members of the 140 members present for the vote, but the provision was later vetoed by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

Provincial elections were originally scheduled for October.

© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.