Kurd president says Iraq vote bill a 'conspiracy'

ARBIL, Iraq (AFP) - The president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region Massud Barzani has sharply criticised a provincial election bill as a "conspiracy," deepening a political rift over the oil-rich Kirkuk province.

"After the long talks we held it was clear for us that what happened on July 22 was a big conspiracy and very dangerous for the democratic and constitutional process of Iraq, in particular against the Kurds," Barzani said.

Barzani's comments late on Monday came as the Iraqi national parliament was meeting on Tuesday to try to resolve disputes over the controversial election bill, eagerly awaited by the United States.

The legislation aims to govern a provincial poll scheduled for October 1, but it has hit a major snag over how the council governing the multi-ethnic region of Kirkuk -- claimed by both Kurds and Arabs -- should be constituted.