Iraq's Supreme Court is ordering the country's parliament back to work, after the body stopped meeting seven months ago, due to a political crisis over forming the next government.Iraq's top judicial body ruled the country's parliament must resume work, following a four-month hiatus. Parliament's acting speaker left the chamber in a state of semi-suspension after its first session last June.Iraqi Supreme Court chief justice Midhat Mahmoud told a news conference at the court's headquarters the June action was illegal and unconstitutional. He says that the decision taken to suspend the 2010 session of parliament at its first session last June was unlawful and the federal supreme court has decided to abrogate the decision and restore the chamber to session, as called for in article 55 of the constitution.Acting parliament speaker Fouad Mahsoum, who was responsible for freezing the legislature's activities last June, says he is planning to set a meeting date, later this week.The Iraqi parliament was technically required to vote to elect a new president, a new prime minister and a new speaker at its first session. The 325 lawmakers met only once since March 7th elections failed to give any party a ruling majority.
News On AIR | October 25, 2010 10:20 AM
Iraq's SC orders parliament to get back to work