US President Barack Obama said that the approval of the electoral law by the Iraqui Parliament is an "important advancement" for allowing the United States' forces to be removed from the country in 2010.

"This is an important step, because the Iraqi people are continuing to build responsibility for their future," said Obama during a declaration at the White House.

The Iraqui Parliament approved the new law, which defines and states the rules for the general elections planned for January 16, 2010, according to an Iraqi television station.

The approval comes after months of discrepancies between different political blocks. One topic of debate has been how the elections will take place in the petroleum-rich area of Kirkuk, which is 250 kilometers north of Baghdad.

"This agreement is an advancement for the political process that could lead to peace and unity in Iraw, and allows for an organized and responsible way out for the US troops in September of 2010," said Obama.

The US President did acknowledge that there have been outbursts of violence in the last weeks, during which two suicide bombers killed more than 130 people in Baghdad.

However, he added that the measure approved by the Iraqi Parliament is another "reminder that the enemies in Iraq have failed."