Arab parliament invites Halbousi to take part in upcoming Cairo meeting

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi has received an invitation to take part in the upcoming meeting of the Arab Parliament, which will be held in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

Halbousi received the invitation during a phone call with Arab Parliament Speaker Mishaal bin Fahad Al-Salmi, his media office said in a statement Sunday.

During the conversation, Salmi congratulated Halbousi on winning the confidence of the Iraqi MPs and assuming this top post.

“The Arab parliament will continue to support the Iraqi House of Representatives in all fields,” Salmi promised.

The Iraqi parliament elected Halbousi, a former governor of Anbar province, as a new chief after an internal poll on Saturday.

Based on a political agreement adopted since the ouster of late leader Saddam Hussein, Kurds assume Iraq’s presidency, Sunnis are entitled to parliament speaker, and Shias hold the prime minister’s office.

Iraq parliament elections, the first since the defeat of Islamic State militants, were held last May amid judicial challenges that prompted a recount of votes.

Halbusi is the leader of a minor list that is allied with the Islah and Emaar (Reform and Reconstruction), which comprises Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s and Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s lists.