Iraq: Rockets hit Baghdad as lawmakers meet to elect president
Iraq #Iraq
A much-anticipated session to resolve Iraq’s political crisis was delayed by a rocket attack on the capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone.
Rockets struck Baghdad’s Green Zone on Thursday as a parliamentary session to elect a new president got underway.
At least ten people were wounded, officials said without giving more details. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The rocket attack delayed but did not postpone the parliament session.
Lawmakers were due to elect a new president at Thursday’s parliament session, a key step toward resolving Iraq’s stalled government formation one year since federal elections were held.
What is the political situation in Iraq?
Iraq is home to three major demographic factions: a Muslim Shiite group, a Muslim Sunni group, and a Kurdish ethnic group.
They traditionally adhere to a political agreement that divides the Iraqi government into a Shiite prime minister, a Kurdish president, and a Sunni parliamentary speaker.
Iraq’s rival Shiite political factions have been vying for influence and the right to select a new premier.
Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was the biggest winner in last October’s federal elections. However, has failed to rally enough support so far. He resigned in August and wants parliament dissolved and new elections.
The Coordination Framework, an alliance made up of mostly Iran-backed Shiite parties, submitted a formal letter claiming to be the largest bloc in parliament and wants Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to be the premier.
Under Iraqi law, before lawmakers can vote on the nominee for the premiership, they must elect a president.
Lawmakers made three previous attempts to elect a new head of state, in February and March, but failed to even reach the required two-thirds threshold for a quorum when Al-Sadr ordered his lawmakers to resign en masse.
lo/rt (AFP, AP, Reuters)