IRAQI BILL TO FORCE PRESIDENT TO SIGN DEATH SENTENCES

a leading member of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's political party, Hussein al-Assadi, said a draft law is being prepared that would make it obligatory for president Jalal Talabani to sign death sentences within 15 days. Al-Assadi said that if the draft law is adopted it would be retroactive and allow Justice Ministry officials to carry out the previously issued death sentences without seeking the president's approval. The number of death sentences awaiting Talabani's approval is more than 500.