Iraq to Call New Parliament Into Session

[maddezmom]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's president said Monday that he would call the country's new parliament into session for the first time on March 12, staring the clock on a 60-day period during which the legislature must elect a new head of state and sign off on a prime minister and Cabinet.


The constitution requires parliament to hold its first meeting no later than four weeks after the vote was certified, which occurred Feb. 12, nearly two months after the election was held.

"We will call today for holding the meeting on the 12th of this month because it is the last day that the constitution allows us to hold the meeting of the new parliament," President Jalal Talabani told reporters.

Iraq is in the midst of a political crisis, with its many parties deeply divided over the main Shiite bloc's decision to name Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to a new term.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060306/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_

[thebigidea]

1. oh boy! Another major turning point! Another historic election!

thousands more dead! yay freedom!

[brooklynite]

3. oops! Stop the presses!

After nightfall, nine key Shiite parliamentarians rushed to an emergency meeting at President Jalal Talabani's Baghdad home to try to change his mind about forcing a showdown in the deepening political crisis and further inflaming sectarian tensions

"I wouldn't put a great big smiley face on it, but I would say they're going very, very well" - General Peter Pace

[rodeodance]

2. oh the purple fingers trumps this (which are a visible symbol of WH

snubbin)