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Iraq's recently elected parliament has elected a
speaker, ending weeks of deadlock that virtually paralyzed government. Senior leaders
say they will move next to elect a president and prime minister.
The Iraqi parliament overwhelmingly chose Industry Minister Hajem
al-Hassani, a Sunni Arab, as speaker. And it elected a Shi'ite, former
nuclear scientist Hussein al-Shahristani, and a Kurdish politician, Arif
Taifour, to be his deputies.
Mr. Hajem said he hoped the vote would restore popular confidence in
the government after weeks of uncertainty.
"We have to work on the
constitution, because that is an urgent thing," he said. "And, also, we
have to finish formation of the government, because we have a lot of
things to accomplish."
The parliament was to choose its speaker last week, but the session
ended in disarray, after
delegates failed to agree on a candidate, despite weeks of talks.
Mr. Hajem, in his acceptance
speech, said it was time for Iraqis to set aside religious
and sectarian differences, and think as one people.
He said all Iraqis, whether Muslim or Christian, Sunni or Shi'ite, Arab
or Kurd, have the right to live in a democratic, multi-ethnic, federal
state. And he received an ovation when he urged politicians to pledge allegiance to the homeland, rather
than to any one party, sect or ethnicity.
Senior leaders say, within days, they will elect a president and two
vice presidents. This presidential council will name the prime minister,
who will have two weeks to form his cabinet.
They say they have agreed that Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani is to
become president, while Shi'ite politician Ibrahim Jaafari will be named
prime minister.
Mr. Jaafari told reporters it was a great day during which most
disagreements were resolved.
He said negotiations would continue in the same manner in order to
defuse any crisis.
Leaders from the various groups say agreement on many ministries has
been reached, but that negotiations continue on some major portfolios.
During the session, a mortar exploded near the fortified Green Zone,
where the parliament was meeting. No injuries were reported.
In addition, U.S. forces battled insurgents for an hour Saturday night
at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. Officials say some 40 U.S.
soldiers and a dozen Iraqi prisoners were wounded in the attack.
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