Скачать или смотреть Iraq's new parliament ends first session early amid political impasse

(1 Jul 2014) Iraq's new parliament ended its first session early on Tuesday amid a continuing political impasse .
Meanwhile, leading Iraqi political analyst said he believed sectarian divisions in the country would be deepened under the new parliament, which was convening for the first time.
They faced intense pressure to quickly choose a new prime minster who could confront a militant blitz that threatens to tear country apart and a spike in violence that made June the deadliest month of the year.
Dr Aziz Jabir, a political science professor in Baghdad said sectarian divisions had "become a political truth that cannot be condoned."
He added: "I am afraid that this sectarianism will be deepened under the new parliament."
The country's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged lawmakers last week to agree on a prime minister, president and parliament speaker before Tuesday's meeting in hopes of averting months of wrangling that could further destabilise the country.
But the prospects of a quick compromise appear distant, and embattled incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki - whose bloc won the most seats in April elections - has shown little willingness to step aside.
A political activist said on Tuesday that parliament should put aside its differences.
"I call on all politicians and lawmakers to give up their conflicts and arguments to form a government that serves the Iraqi people," said Bahjit al-Taie.
More than 250 of the legislature's 328 members were due to be in attendance for Tuesday's session at the parliament, which is located in the heavily guarded Green Zone in central Baghdad.

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