Baghdad, IRAQ -Iraq's presidential council has agreed on a law which paves the way for US-backed provincial elections to be held by the end of January, a spokesman said. Al-Ani says the panel led by President Jalal Talabani decided to approve the law on Monday but did not sign it due to Islamic holidays.

The spokesman for the panel, Nasser al-Ani, said the law had gained unanimous approval from the three-member panel.

The move is a breakthrough for US-led efforts to promote reconciliation, although two divisive issues were not addressed: the status of the oil-rich region around Kirkuk and representation of minorities.