Iraq parliament elects Sunni lawmaker Al-Halbousi as speaker, breaking deadlock

Iraq's parliament elected Sunni lawmaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi as a speaker on Saturday, marking the first step towards establishing the new government four months after an inconclusive national election.

Parliament was due to elect a speaker and two deputies during its first meeting on Sept 3 but failed to do so as lawmakers were still trying to determine which competing bloc had the most seats.