Iraq's new parliament failed to elect a speaker as its first session ended in disarray on Tuesday, with MPs due to meet again in a week. Lawmakers were constitutionally required to choose a speaker in their first session, followed over a period of weeks by the selection of a new president, who names a presumptive prime minister.But a number of MPs failed to return after a 30-minute break meant to restore order, and the session broke down into a debate over whether there were enough lawmakers present to continue. Eventually, Mahdi Hafez, the MP presiding over the session, said parliament would reconvene on July 8 "if there is the possibility of an agreement".
The legislative chaos comes despite repeated international appeals for unity as Iraq faces a major militant offensive that has overrun swathes of five provinces north and west of Baghdad.
Under de facto agreements after past elections, the parliament speaker has generally been a Sunni, the prime minister a Shia, and the president a Kurd.