Iraq Seeks to Bar Top Officials from Dual Citizenship

Iraq's cabinet sent a draft law to parliament on Tuesday that would bar top government officials and officers in the security forces from holding dual citizenship, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's spokesman said.

Under the proposed law, ministers, MPs, governors, ambassadors and security officers would have to choose between giving up their second citizenship or leaving their post, Ali Mussawi said.

Mussawi said the law was to enact a provision of the Iraqi constitution.

Article 18 of the constitution says Iraqis can hold dual citizenship, but not those who have senior positions.

Several senior Iraqi officials hold dual citizenship, including Vice President Khudayr al-Khuzaie, who has Iranian nationality, and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who is also British.