Iraqi officials, including interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi (third from right), pray before the opening session of Iraq's National Assembly in Baghdad on March 16.

"This day marks a new birth for all Iraqis. It marks the birth of the Parliament," said Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the Shiite politician expected to be the next prime minister.

Before taking their oaths, almost two years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, lawmakers had to endure mortar shell barrages and wailing air raid sirens as insurgents made their presence felt.

The failure to appoint top officials stemmed from the inability of Shiites, Kurds and Sunni Arabs to agree on a speaker for the new legislature as well as renewed haggling over Cabinet posts. Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi reportedly rejected an offer of the defense minister's job.

The interim constitution has no set time limit on forming the government after the National Assembly convenes. But once it elects a president with a two-thirds majority, a prime minister must be chosen within two weeks.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 26, 2005
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