Iraq Election

“Iraq’s political leaders sought a compromise that would avoid further delay in the country’s national election, officials said on Thursday, warning that fierce disagreements on how to conduct the election could still unravel any deal. Even with an agreement, the election is now unlikely to occur by a constitutional deadline in January; it could slip into February, or beyond. Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki warned on Thursday that any further delay in holding the vote would put the country ‘at grave risk.’ Throughout the day there were indications that Iraq’s leaders were actively searching for a way to avoid deepening the crisis over the election, which is widely considered a pivotal moment in the country’s transition to democracy. A compromise, however, did not appear likely before next week, as Iraqis began to celebrate the Islamic holiday Id al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, which lasts until Tuesday. “