Iraqi parliament to vote on several draft laws in session on Tuesday

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Council of Representatives convened on Tuesday for the third session of the first year of its second legislative term, with several draft laws on the agenda. The chamber was scheduled to hold first-reading votes on the second amendment to the personnel law, the third amendment to the lawyers' syndicate law and the second amendment to the chemists' syndicate law. Lawmaker Murtada al-Saadi said the proposed changes to the chemists' syndicate law would update the regulation of the profession and the work of the syndicate. He said the amendment is aimed at strengthening the rights of chemists working in health, industry, the environment and laboratory fields. Lawmaker Duha al-Sadhan objected to the inclusion of the first amendment to the Sunni Endowment Diwan law on the session's agenda. Al-Sadhan said the relevant committee was not informed before the amendment was submitted and that the proposed changes had not been reviewed by the committee. Reports said the committee has requested that the amendment be withdrawn from the agenda and referred to the competent committees before it is considered in parliament. No further details were immediately available on the outcome of the votes or the committee's request.