Iraq parliament elects new speaker

Parliament's media office said 309 out of 329 lawmakers took part in the inaugural session, with Haibat al-Halbussi, 45, emerging as the winner from three candidates, with 208 votes. By convention, a Shiite Muslim holds the post of prime minister, the parliament speaker is Sunni and the largely ceremonial presidency goes to a Kurd. Parliament's oldest member, 77-year-old Amer al-Fayez, chaired parliament's first session, as per convention. The vote for two deputy speakers, who traditionally are Shiite and Kurdish, was still under way.