Iraq president to choose new PM candidate

Iraqi President Barham Salih will begin consultations to choose a new candidate for prime minister after Mohammad Tawfiq Allawi withdrew his candidacy.

Iran Press/Middle East: Salih will choose a candidate within 15 days, Iraq's state news agency said late on Sunday.

The designated candidate to be Iraq's new prime minister, Mohammad Tawfiq Allawi has withdrawn his candidacy after parliament adjourned a session to approve his cabinet choices.

Hours earlier, Iraq's Parliament failed to approve Mr Allawi's Cabinet for the second time in a week due to a lack of quorum. He needed a majority of the 329 MPs to pass his government.

Political parties had until Monday to break the stalemate otherwise Salih, as required by the constitution, had to designate a prime minister to end the impasse.

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