Iraq is likely to postpone its general elections, supposed to be held in January, as the parliament still struggles to reach an agreement over an electoral law.

Parliament Speaker Iyad al-Samarrai ruled out the possibility of holding parliamentary elections in January because the parliament is yet to decide how to conduct the vote, AFP reported.

"The (election) commission announced it (the vote) would be held on January 16th, this is not possible anymore because there is no law," Samarrai told Al-Iraqiya television channel on Friday.

"I believe that the elections will be held in March," he added.

On Monday, Iraqi lawmakers passed an amended version of a law which was vetoed by one of Iraq's Vice Presidents, Tareq al-Hashimi, for a greater say for minorities and Iraqi nationals living abroad.

The amended version is currently before Iraq's three-member presidential council, composed of Tareq al-Hashimi, President Jalal Talabani, and Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi.

The electoral commission has repeatedly warned that delays over the voting law will leave too little time to complete preparations for the election.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has also warned Hashimi against a second veto which would put the country's security, economy and constitution "at grave risk."

SB/SS/MMA