BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's Sunni Arab vice president has rejected part of akey election law, throwing the January vote and a planned U.S. troop drawdown into question.

Tariq al-Hashemi said Wednesday he is sending part of the law back to parliament to be amended. He wants more seats allocated for Iraqis living abroad, most of whom are Sunni Arabs.

It was not immediately clear when parliament would take up the issue.

Lawmakers haggled for weeks over the election legislation before finally passing it on Nov. 8.

Now, al-Hashemi's move threatens to undermine Iraq's fledgling democracy and derail Washington's plans to withdraw all combat troops by the end of August. U.S. commanders have tied the move to the national vote.

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