Iraq's supreme court on Sunday ordered parliament back to work after a seven-month political deadlock that has blocked the formation of a new government. Iraq's federal Supreme Court described the delay unconstitutional. Parliament's acting speaker, Fouad Massoum, told The Associated Press that he expects to have a meeting date set by the end of this week.
The court order termed as "illegal" a June decision by lawmakers to delay parliament's return and give leaders time to broker political alliances. "The federal Supreme Court decided to cancel this decision, binding the parliament speaker to call on lawmakers to convene parliament and resume work," read the order that was issued Sunday. The delay, it said, "violated the constitution."
Meanwhile, at least five people died and 15 were hurt when a car bomb went off Sunday in a medical compound in Mosul, police and health officials said. The compound includes a number of clinics, hospitals and the Mosul medical college, officials added.
