15 June 2010 / AP, BAGHDAD
Iraq’s new parliament convened on Monday in what was little more than a symbolic inaugural session because of unresolved differences over key positions including parliament speaker, president and prime minister -- a precarious political limbo three months after inconclusive elections.
The sides are sharply divided over the formation of a new government, and analysts and some lawmakers have warned that a decision could still be months away. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is battling to keep his job after the rival Sunni-backed Iraqiya list narrowly won the most seats in the March 7 balloting. In parliament, al-Maliki watched as his chief rival, Ayad Allawi, who heads the Iraqiya bloc, and other lawmakers stood to take the oath of office in Arabic and Kurdish. Under Iraq’s constitution, the legislature should have chosen a parliament speaker and a president, but these appointments had to be put off because they are part of the negotiations between major political blocs over the rest of the new leadership -- including a prime minister and top Cabinet officials. Acting speaker, Fouad Massoum, adjourned the session after about 10 minutes, saying a president would be chosen later because the parties needed more time to discuss the issue. “We found out that the blocs and the lawmakers need more time for discussions to choose the members of the presidential council,” Massoum said.
