Iraq says U.S.-backed oil law sent to parliament
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi government has sent to parliament a landmark draft oil law, the oil minister said on Wednesday, a major step towards meeting one of the political benchmarks Washington has set for Baghdad.
Parliamentary officials, however, said they were unaware the bill had been submitted to the legislature.
The draft law, crucial to regulating how wealth from Iraq's vast reserves would be shared by its sectarian and ethnic groups, was passed by cabinet in February and hailed at the time by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as a pillar of Iraqi unity.
But a dispute between the central government and autonomous, oil-rich Kurdistan over control of the world's third largest oil reserves has delayed its submission.
Speaking to reporters in Saudi Arabia, Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said Kurdish officials were happy with the law, adding he hoped it would pass by the end of May.
"It has been sent to parliament now. There has been agreement among the political parties to work together to enact it by the end of the month. We are still hoping that parliament will be able to do that," Shahristani said.
"The KRG (Kurdish regional government) is not opposed to the draft law. On the contrary, they are very happy with the draft law."
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