Iraqi lawmakers say they may shorten or cancel 2-month 'vacation'

Iraqi lawmakers said Thursday they might consider shortening — or canceling completely — their planned two-month summer break to continue working on crucial issues facing the country.

But they slammed a hail of bipartisan criticism from U.S. lawmakers angry that Iraqi parliamentarians expected to take a vacation while U.S. soldiers risked their lives as hypocritical meddling in domestic politics.

"Certainly taking a two-month vacation will have an effect on passing some important laws," said Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish lawmaker. "We can stay if we feel that this is very important, but I think that the worries by the congressmen are premature. Moreover, they themselves take vacation."

A recess, which would start in July, may leave several crucial pieces of legislation unfinished, including a bill for distributing oil revenue and plans to reverse measures that barred many Sunnis from holding certain jobs and government office.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

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