Parliament adjourns session, Maliki to present cabinet line up

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Parliament adjourned session on Monday after discussing all issues listed on its agenda, a member of al-Iraqiya List said. “The session was adjourned until tomorrow to discuss the cabinet line up to be presented by the Prime Minister-designate Nouri al-Maliki at 5:00pmm today,” Salah al-Juburi told IraqiNews.com news agency. “Prime Minister-designate Nouri al-Maliki sent an official letter to the parliament, asking to present his cabinet line up on Dec. 20,” the state-run television of Iraqia quoted Minister of State for Council of Representatives affairs Safa al-Din Mohammed al-Safi as saying. On Nov. 25, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani officially asked incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to form the country’s next government after the rival political blocs approved earlier a power-sharing deal that ended the eight-month political deadlock. According to the Iraqi constitution, Maliki has to pick his cabinet within 30 days after his official nomination as prime minister-designate by the president. The new government and its programs will have to win the approval of an absolute majority of the members of the parliament. SH (S)/SR 70