Iraqi Parliament Chaos Over Sunni Speaker

"The Iraqi parliament's second-only session broke up in acrimony as MPs lashed out at political leaders for their failure to form a government. Initially the meeting was delayed for hours as Shia, Kurdish and Sunni Arab leaders haggled over who would fill the position of parliamentary speaker.

"During the heated debate interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi stormed out of the session. A parliament speaker is needed before MPs can begin discussions about the formation of the presidency council which will appoint the key position of prime minister. The appointment of a Sunni Arab is meant as a gesture to that minority.