South Sudan President Salva Kiir signed amendments to the country's election law late on Monday, removing requirements that linked elections to the completion of a permanent constitution and a national census, changes that were rejected by the main opposition coalition.

The amendments are intended to clear the way for general elections scheduled for December 22, which would be South Sudan's first since independence in 2011.

Last week, the president replaced the head of the elections commission without giving any reason.

Kiir's office said the amendments to the National Elections Act of 2012 marked "another major milestone" in preparations for the vote.

Election law

Presidential Affairs Minister Africano Mande Gedima said the amendments were intended to align the election law with the transitional constitution and remove provisions that had made the election contingent on completing a permanent constitution and a national census.

Under the amended law, the incumbent executive leadership remains in office with full constitutional powers through the election period until a newly elected president assumes office, while the legislation also provides for the first vice president and other vice presidents to leave office within three months before election day.

The law reduces the National Legislative Assembly to 270 members from 650. State assemblies will have 58 members, down from 100, while legislative councils in administrative areas will have 20 members.

Parliament passed the bill earlier on Monday before it was sent to Kiir for assent, as South Sudan enters a critical phase of election preparations, although voter registration has not begun.