BAGHDAD: The Iraqi parliament voted down Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi’s nominees for defence and interior minister yesterday, leaving the key positions unfilled as the country battles to regain ground from militants.
Parliament approved Abadi’s partial cabinet on August 8. MPs rejected his candidates for the interior, defence and tourism ministers yesterday, with some applauding after the no votes, though they did approve Mehsen Hassun as minister of water resources.
Iraq’s last government also began without defence and interior ministers and the positions remained unfilled for the next four years, but Abadi said that he wants to end the tradition. “I am not ready... to administer these two ministries,” he said. Parliament Speaker Salim Al Juburi announced that MPs would reconvene tomorrow. AFP
