Iraq's new parliament convened for a brief meeting Monday in a symbolic inaugural session due ro the unresolved differences over key government positions. In parliament, Premier Nouri al-Maliki watched as his main rival, Ayad Allawi, who heads the Iraqiya bloc, and other lawmakers stood to take the oath of office in Arabic and Kurdish. The other half of the session was taken up by the singing of the national anthem and readings from the Quran, the AP reported.
Under Iraq's constitution, the legislature should have chosen a parliament speaker and a president, but these appointments had to be put off.
Acting speaker, Fouad Massoum, adjourned the session after 20 minutes, saying the parties needed more time to discuss the issue. According to him, the session will be left open.
