Iraq sets long-awaited election date

Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki hopes the new election law will help strengthen national unity.

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq has finally set a date for elections -- seen as a critical step towards the withdrawal of U.S. troops -- the head of the country's Independent High Electoral Commission said Tuesday.

"After intensive discussion with the presidential council we've all agreed on March 6, 2010 to be the new date for the parliamentary elections," Faraj al-Haidari told CNN. The country's president and two vice-presidents have approved the date, he said.

There has been intense wrangling in parliament over the passage of an election law, and one of the country's vice-presidents vetoed an earlier version of the legislation, pushing back a vote that had been planned for January.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki hailed the passage of the election law Monday.

The elections law could strengthen national unity and help "achieve the aspirations of our people" to establish a democratic system ensuring rights for Iraqis "to live in dignity, justice and equality," the prime minister said in a congratulatory statement to Iraqis.