Iraq passes minorities bill despite protest

Baghdad: Iraq's president and two vice presidents approved a bill on Saturday that guarantees local council seats for Christians and other minorities, though minority groups complained it gave them too few seats.

The bill gives the minorities a quota of six out of a total of 440 provincial council seats to be elected by January 31.

The decision to approve the bill was made despite strong opposition from Christians and other minority groups.

The United Nations had suggested they should get 12.