Iraq\u2019s parliament on Thursday elected Kurdish politician Abdul Latif Rashid as president, who immediately named Mohammed Shia al-Sudani prime minister-designate, ending a year of deadlock after a national election in October last year.<\/p>\n
The presidency, traditionally occupied by a Kurd, is a largely ceremonial position, but the vote for Rashid was a key step toward forming a new government, which politicians have failed to do since the election.<\/p>\n
Rashid, 78, was the Iraqi minister of water resources from 2003-2010. The British-educated engineer won against former President Barham Salih, who was running for a second term.<\/p>\n
He invited Sudani, the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc known as the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-aligned factions, to form a government. Sudani, 52, previously served as Iraq\u2019s human rights minister as well as minister of labour and social affairs.<\/p>\n
Sudani now has 30 days to form a cabinet and present it to parliament for approval.<\/p>\n
Thursday’s vote, which was the fourth attempt to elect a president this year, took place shortly after nine rockets landed on Thursday around the Iraqi capital’s Green Zone, according to a military statement.<\/p>\n
At least 10 people, including members of the security forces, were injured in the attack, according to security and medical sources.<\/p>\n
Similar attacks took place last month as the parliament was holding a vote to confirm its speaker.<\/p>\n
Thursday’s parliament session comes a year after an election in which populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was the biggest winner but failed to rally support to form a government.<\/p>\n
Sadr withdrew his 73 lawmakers in August and said he would quit politics, prompting the worst violence in Baghdad for years when his loyalists stormed a government palace and fought rival groups, most of them backed by Iran and with armed wings.<\/p>\n