Iraqi VP: No deal yet on election law standoff

A top Iraqi official warned Friday "it is too early" to claim a breakthrough in a political crisis over the fragile democracy's election law, all but assuring that a national vote will be pushed past its deadline. The Obama administration was banking on the elections to be held by the end of January, as required under the nation's constitution, to begin the withdrawal of about 115,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq. But political battles in Baghdad–mostly over power-sharing in Parliament–so far have stymied the upcoming vote. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, has said the delay is threatening national security, but predicted all American forces would be out of Iraq by the end of 2011 as scheduled.