Plunging the divided nation into political uncertainty, dozens of lawmakers who make up the biggest bloc in Iraq’s parliament resigned on Sunday amid a prolonged political impasse.

In a move ostensibly designed to up pressure to end an eight-month political paralysis, Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr asked the MPs from his bloc to resign so that space can be created for the establishment of a new government.

Calling his request "a sacrifice from me for the country and the people to rid them of the unknown destiny", Sadr, a populist who has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of both Iran and the United States, also has support from Sunni lawmakers from Halbussi's party and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-ruins-of-hidden-3400-year-old-city-found-after-severe-drought-in-iraq-485639">Also see |&nbsp;In pics - Ruins of hidden 3,400-year-old city found after severe drought in Iraq</a>

Increasing the number of seats it holds in parliament to 73, Sadr's party was the biggest winner in an October general election.

According to Ali Moussawi, a former Shi'ite lawmaker and a political researcher at Baghdad University, "Sadr reached to the point that he accepted the bitter reality that it's nearly impossible to form a government away from the Iranian-backed groups."

With intense negotiations among political factions failing to forge a majority in support of a new prime minister to succeed Mustafa al-Kadhemi, parliament in Baghdad has been in turmoil since October's general election.

Prolonging the war-scarred country's political crisis, Iraqi lawmakers have already exceeded all deadlines for setting up a new government set down in the constitution.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drastic-step-iraq-approves-law-makes-normalising-relations-with-israel-illegal-482483">Also read |&nbsp;Drastic step: Iraq approves law that makes normalising ties with Israel illegal</a>

Claiming to hold a parliamentary majority, Sadr's coalition and his rival the Coordination Framework have said they have the right to appoint the prime minister.

In the near two decades since dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003, over $400 billion had gone missing from state coffers according to official figures published last year.

With neighbouring Iran providing a third of Iraq's gas and electricity needs, Iraq remains dependent on imports to meet energy needs despite its immense oil and gas reserves.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Plunging the divided nation into political uncertainty, dozens of lawmakers who make up the biggest bloc in Iraq’s parliament resigned on Sunday amid a prolonged political impasse.

Plunging the divided nation into political uncertainty, dozens of lawmakers who make up the biggest bloc in Iraq’s parliament resigned on Sunday amid a prolonged political impasse. In a move ostensibly designed to up pressure to end an eight-month political paralysis, Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr asked the MPs from his bloc to resign so that space can be created for the establishment of a new government. Calling his request "a sacrifice from me for the country and the people to rid them of the unknown destiny", Sadr, a populist who has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of both Iran and the United States, also has support from Sunni lawmakers from Halbussi's party and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). Also see | In pics - Ruins of hidden 3,400-year-old city found after severe drought in Iraq Increasing the number of seats it holds in parliament to 73, Sadr's party was the biggest winner in an October general election. According to Ali Moussawi, a former Shi'ite lawmaker and a political researcher at Baghdad University, "Sadr reached to the point that he accepted the bitter reality that it's nearly impossible to form a government away from the Iranian-backed groups." With intense negotiations among political factions failing to forge a majority in support of a new prime minister to succeed Mustafa al-Kadhemi, parliament in Baghdad has been in turmoil since October's general election. Prolonging the war-scarred country's political crisis, Iraqi lawmakers have already exceeded all deadlines for setting up a new government set down in the constitution. Also read | Drastic step: Iraq approves law that makes normalising ties with Israel illegal Claiming to hold a parliamentary majority, Sadr's coalition and his rival the Coordination Framework have said they have the right to appoint the prime minister. In the near two decades since dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003, over $400 billion had gone missing from state coffers according to official figures published last year. With neighbouring Iran providing a third of Iraq's gas and electricity needs, Iraq remains dependent on imports to meet energy needs despite its immense oil and gas reserves. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Iraq: Shi'ite Sadrist lawmakers resign from parliament amid impasse

Iraqi Kurdistan's parliament named Masrour Barzani as the region's new premier on Tuesday, a day after his cousin was sworn in as its president.

Masrour Barzani, 50, is the son of longtime Iraqi Kurdish leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kurdish-leader-barzani-resigns-after-independence-vote-backfires-23100">Masoud Barzani</a> and had been serving as national security adviser for the autonomous region since 2012.&nbsp;

He won the votes of 87 of the 97 members present in the region's 111-seat chamber -- more than his cousin received when he was elected president late last month.&nbsp;

PM-elect Barzani will have one month to form the autonomous region's cabinet.&nbsp;

The cousins hail from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which was founded by their grandfather Mustafa in 1946 and remains dominated by the Barzani clan.

Its main rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), boycotted Nechirvan's election as president but at least some of its MPs took part in Tuesday's session.&nbsp;

Born in Arbil in 1969, Masrour joined the Kurdish security forces, known as the peshmerga, as a 16-year-old.&nbsp;

He attended school in neighbouring Iran, then returned to Iraqi Kurdistan to take part in the 1991 uprising against then-dictator Saddam Hussein before travelling to the US to complete his graduate studies.

During his tenure as a national security adviser, Barzani had a major role in the region's fightback against the Islamic State jihadist group, which swept across a third of Iraq in 2014.

He succeeds his cousin Nechirvan who had served as prime minister since 2012.&nbsp;

Nechirvan is now the KRG's second president after Masoud Barzani, who resigned after 12 years in office following a controversial 2017 referendum on Kurdish independence that prompted Baghdad to reoccupy large swathes of Kurdish-held territory.&nbsp;

Iraqi Kurdistan's parliament named Masrour Barzani as the region's new premier on Tuesday, a day after his cousin was sworn in as its president. Masrour Barzani, 50, is the son of longtime Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and had been serving as national security adviser for the autonomous region since 2012.

Iraqi Kurdistan's parliament named Masrour Barzani as the region's new premier on Tuesday, a day after his cousin was sworn in as its president. Masrour Barzani, 50, is the son of longtime Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and had been serving as national security adviser for the autonomous region since 2012. He won the votes of 87 of the 97 members present in the region's 111-seat chamber -- more than his cousin received when he was elected president late last month. PM-elect Barzani will have one month to form the autonomous region's cabinet. The cousins hail from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which was founded by their grandfather Mustafa in 1946 and remains dominated by the Barzani clan. Its main rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), boycotted Nechirvan's election as president but at least some of its MPs took part in Tuesday's session. Born in Arbil in 1969, Masrour joined the Kurdish security forces, known as the peshmerga, as a 16-year-old. He attended school in neighbouring Iran, then returned to Iraqi Kurdistan to take part in the 1991 uprising against then-dictator Saddam Hussein before travelling to the US to complete his graduate studies. During his tenure as a national security adviser, Barzani had a major role in the region's fightback against the Islamic State jihadist group, which swept across a third of Iraq in 2014. He succeeds his cousin Nechirvan who had served as prime minister since 2012. Nechirvan is now the KRG's second president after Masoud Barzani, who resigned after 12 years in office following a controversial 2017 referendum on Kurdish independence that prompted Baghdad to reoccupy large swathes of Kurdish-held territory.

Iraq Kurds name president's cousin Masrour Barzani as their new Prime Minister

Seven people were killed in twin blasts near the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran&#39;s headquarters on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The blasts struck the Koysinjaq town at 10:00 pm (1900 GMT) killing five members of Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran, a security personnel and a child, Kurdish region&#39;s deputy interior minister Jalal Karim said.&nbsp;

Karim did not specify the number of people injured in the attack, AFP reported.

The Kurdish region in Iran is autonomous has been largely exemted from violence unlike other parts of the country.

No group has claimed reponsibilty for the attack so far. However the Islamic State group is known to carry out such attacks, with the Kurdish forces taking on the militant group in Mosul.&nbsp;

But specualtions are rife that since the Iranian party headquarters were attack, there is a possibilty that another organisation may be responsible for the blasts.

The Kurds are present in four neighbouring countries including Iran. There are about five million Kurds in Iran.

 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

The blasts struck Koysinjaq town about 10:00 pm killing five members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran, a security member and a child

Seven people were killed in twin blasts near the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran's headquarters on Tuesday. The blasts struck the Koysinjaq town at 10:00 pm (1900 GMT) killing five members of Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran, a security personnel and a child, Kurdish region's deputy interior minister Jalal Karim said. Karim did not specify the number of people injured in the attack, AFP reported. The Kurdish region in Iran is autonomous has been largely exemted from violence unlike other parts of the country. No group has claimed reponsibilty for the attack so far. However the Islamic State group is known to carry out such attacks, with the Kurdish forces taking on the militant group in Mosul. But specualtions are rife that since the Iranian party headquarters were attack, there is a possibilty that another organisation may be responsible for the blasts. The Kurds are present in four neighbouring countries including Iran. There are about five million Kurds in Iran. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Iran: Twin blasts kill 7 near Iranian Kurdish party HQ