BAGHDAD (AP) - The Iraqi parliament's Sunni blocs say they have agreed on a candidate for the post of parliament speaker, paving the way for the legislature to take the first formal step toward forming a new government.
Under an informal arrangement that took hold after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, the speaker's chair goes to a Sunni, the presidency to a Kurd and the prime minister's post to a Shiite. Parliament is scheduled to meet Sunday amid pressure to quickly elect new leadership, starting with a new speaker.
Sunni lawmaker Mohammed al-Karbooli said in a statement late Saturday that Sunni parties decided on Salim al-Jubouri as their nominee for speaker.
Al-Karbooli said al-Jubouri promised not to support a third term for embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is under pressure to step aside.
Entities 0 Name: AP Count: 1 1 Name: Al-Karbooli Count: 1 2 Name: Nouri al-Maliki Count: 1 3 Name: Mohammed al-Karbooli Count: 1 4 Name: Iraqi Count: 1 5 Name: BAGHDAD Count: 1 6 Name: al-Jubouri Count: 1 7 Name: Salim al-Jubouri Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1sLHSqN Title: Iraqi Forces Battle Sunni Rebels Over Control of a Military Base Description: BAGHDAD - Iraqi government soldiers backed by Shiite militias fought Sunni rebels for control of a military base northeast of Baghdad on Saturday, as a United Nations envoy warned of chaos if divided lawmakers do not make progress on Sunday toward forming a government.
