BAGHDAD: Three tense months after legislative elections, Iraq’s parliament has finally held its inaugural session but opening debates swiftly descended into furious arguments between Shiite factions. In multi-confessional and multi-ethnic Iraq, the formation of governments has involved complex negotiations ever since the 2003 US-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
Iraq’s new parliament held a heated inaugural session on January 9, three tense months after legislative elections won by Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, the likely kingmaker of the next government.