Parl. resumes sessions to elect speaker

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Parliament on Wednesday will resume its sessions to elect its speaker, according to a parliamentary statement. “The sessions will be resumed tomorrow following a recess that began on January 19 th, when the parliament failed to elect a speaker,” read the statement that was received by IraqiNews.com news agency. Mahmoud al-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) 1