Sharjah24 – AFP: Iraq's top court Thursday provisionally suspended the newly-appointed speaker of parliament, while judges consider an appeal by two fellow deputies claiming his re-election by other lawmakers was unconstitutional.
The Federal Supreme Court decided "to suspend the work" of influential MP Mohammed al-Halbussi on a temporary basis, while it investigates the process of his election.
The move impacts the workings of parliament, as lawmakers cannot meet without the speaker.
One of parliament's first tasks must be to elect the country's president, who will then name a prime minister tasked with forming a new government
Despite Halbussi's suspension, the clock has not stopped ticking on the 30-day deadline to elect a new president that began at the parliament's inaugural session, the court said.
Iraq's post-election period since the October 10 vote has been marred by high tensions, violence and allegations of vote fraud.
Parliament only met Sunday for the first time in three months since the polls, where the new members held a swearing-in ceremony and elected the speaker.
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