Iraq's Sunni Arab Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi has warned parliament that he will use his veto if the election law is not amended within 48 hours.

He said the parliament has to make changes in the electoral law giving the right to Iraqi Sunnis living abroad more guaranteed seats in parliament.

Al-Hashimi gave parliament until Tuesday noon to amend the election bill and ensure greater representation for the mostly Sunni expatriates living in Jordan and Syria, throwing the January vote into question.

“If the law is not amended by the parliament or the electoral commission by reconsidering the distribution of... seats, I will definitely use my constitutional right,” al-Hashimi said on al-Hurra television, referring to his veto power over legislation as vice president and a member of the three-person presidential council, Associated Press reported Sunday.

“I will not allow the passage of a law that contradicts the constitution and the principles of justice regardless of the price to be paid,” he added.

In a letter to parliament earlier in the day, al-Hashimi said the election bill ratified a week ago did not take into consideration the estimated two million Sunnis who fled the sectarian violence.

Any delay in the voting could derail a US plan to withdraw combat troops from Iraq, a process scheduled to ramp up following the election.

FTP/HGL