The Iraqi parliament has again failed to approve a law that would govern next year's national elections.

Iraqi lawmakers say they will consider the bill again on Sunday.

Theirrepeated failure to reach a consensus on the controversial bill hasraised doubts that the elections will take place as planned on January16.

The election commission chief, Faraj al-Haidari, had warnedparliament that if it did not approve the bill this week, there wouldnot be enough time to get ready for the vote.

Lawmakers cannotagree on the voting guidelines for Kirkuk, an oil-rich province that ishome to Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen communities.  

Someparliamentarians support using current voter records for Kirkuk, whichwould favor Kurds.  Others have suggested using a voter registry datingback to 2004, which would favor Arabs.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.