Iraq vice president hopeful on election impasse

BAGHDAD — Iraq's vice president said Saturday there are "optimistic signs" toward a political agreement on parliamentary elections, but warned he could again veto the plan if it does not meet his demands for greater Sunni outreach in the balloting.

Tariq al-Hashemi has held up the planning for scheduled Jan. 16 elections because he wants to give a greater voice to Iraqis living abroad, most of whom are fellow Sunni Arabs and could boost Sunni seats in the new 323-seat parliament.

Some officials have proposed a delay in the election until late February or early March — which could complicate a Pentagon withdrawal timetable that calls for U.S. combat missions to stop at the end of August.

Hashemi has until today to decide to reinstate his veto. Parliament is expected to convene to discuss possible compromise plans, but lawmakers failed Saturday to get a quorum for an emergency session on the election impasse.

"There are optimistic signs and I hope the remaining simple points of dispute will be resolved by the political groups," Hashemi told state-run al-Iraqiya television .