Kurds change name of legislative branch

ERBIL, Iraq, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Lawmakers with the legislative branch of the Kurdistan Regional Government Wednesday voted unanimously to change the official name of the body.

In an extraordinary session in the Kurdish regional capital of Erbil, lawmakers approved a measure to change the name of the legislative branch from the Kurdistan National Assembly to Iraq's Kurdistan Parliament, the Voices of Iraq news agency reported.

Kurdish lawmakers considered a variety of measures in the Wednesday session. Among those was a decision to increase the number of seats allocated to female lawmakers from 25 percent to 30 percent of the 111-member body.

Lawmakers last week had signaled they would consider a variety of amendments to their legal system and election laws, which were adopted in 1992.

Adnan Mufti, the leading parliamentarian, said, among other things, that Kurdish officials had decided on a preliminary date for elections in the region.

"There is a semi-agreement that the parliamentary elections will be held on May 19," he said. "This issue would be discussed with the Independent (High) Electoral Commission of Iraq."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Emerging_Threats/2009/02/11/Kurds_change_name_of_legislative_branch/UPI-58331234382936/.