US officials in Baghdad urged Iraqi legislators on Tuesday to pass an election law crucial to organising a January vote the Obama administration considers key to withdrawing US combat troops.

Christopher Hill, the US ambassador, and General Ray Odierno, the US military commander in Baghdad, said they were concerned parliament had not yet reached an agreement on the law. They urged lawmakers “to act expeditiously on this important legislation that will set the terms for successful, transparent political participation in this milestone event”. A day earlier, Ad Melkert, the United Nations representative in Iraq, voiced similar concerns.