Blackout plunges Iraqi parliament into darkness

BAGHDAD, May 8 (Reuters) - A power blackout forced Iraq's parliament to cancel its session today, at a time when Iraqi legislators are under growing pressure from US officials to pass laws seen as vital to healing sectarian divisions.

Parliament, which is in the heavily fortified Green Zone, usually receives 24-hour power despite severe electricity shortages in other parts of Baghdad.

The lights went off as legislators were about to enter the hall and a couple of hours later, officials decided to postpone the session until tomorrow.

It was unclear what caused the blackout. The building has also had little or no water for months.

Iraq's different political blocs need to agree and pass contentious bills such as an oil law that opens the way for foreign investment in Iraq's long-nationalised oil sector and measures that will roll back a ban on members of Saddam Hussein's former Baath party holding public jobs.

US officials have urged parliament not to take a scheduled two-month break over the summer to push through the laws.

REUTERS HK RAI1838