Investors seen positive on Iraq law, eye Kirkuk row
* Kirkuk impasse to impact north oilfields allure
* Eurobond prices to be unaffected by election law
* Disputed northern areas to weigh on investor sentiment
By Jack Kimball
BAGHDAD, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Investor sentiment will be bolstered by the Iraqi parliament's passage of a long-delayed election law, but the failure to resolve a row over the disputed city of Kirkuk may cause massive headaches in the long run.
A divided political scene and a stubborn insurgency continue to raise risks for investors in the world's 11th largest oil producer which is trying to kickstart its economy and energy sector after years of neglect.
Iraq's politics are mired in sectarian disputes and a row over power and land between the Arab-led government in Baghdad and Kurds in a semi-autonomous northern region. U.S. officials fear Kurd-Arab tensions may sow the seeds of a new war.
"Kirkuk remains a flashpoint, and until there is an agreement it will be an ongoing concern for investors in all sectors," said Francis Beddington, head of research at the frontier fund Insparo. Continued...
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