Sadrist MP wants Mashhadani back

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A parliamentarian from the Sadrist bloc on Sunday called for the return of Mahmoud al-Mashhadani to his position as Parliament speaker, citing his “experience” in managing the Parliament’s affairs. “Mahmoud al-Mashhadani is the very person for the position of speaker because of his experience…We do not need to go through the process of electing a speaker again,” MP Ghofran al-Saadi told IraqiNews.com news agency. Earlier today, a parliamentary media source said that Iraq’s Council of Representatives has opened its session with the Iraqi Accord Front’s (IAF) nomination of a replacement for the resigned Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. The name of the candidate has not been disclosed. Mashhadani stepped down as Parliament speaker following a heated argument with members of parliamentary committees, during which he allegedly used “offensive” language that prompted many parliamentarians to call for his resignation. SS (P)/SR 1