Braving rockets, Iraq MPs elect president who names PM after year of deadlock

By Agence France-Presse

Oct 15, 2022 12:01 am

Baghdad, Iraq: Despite a rocket attack on Baghdad's Green Zone, Iraqi lawmakers Thursday (Friday in Manila) elected a new president who swiftly named a prime minister in hopes of ending a year of political gridlock and violence in the war-scarred nation.

Abdel Latif Rashid, a 78-year-old Iraqi Kurd, was elected as head of state, replacing Barham Saleh, by the assembly in the capital's heavily fortified Green Zone government and diplomatic district.

Iraqi security forces block a road leading to the Green Zone in Baghdad on Oct. 13, 2022 (October 14 in Manila) as lawmakers gather for their fourth attempt this year to elect a new state president and break political gridlock that has sparked deadly violence. AFP PHOTO

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