Iraqi Parliament Delays Vote On New Allawi Cabinet

Parliament fails to form quorum for vote.

The Iraqi parliament failed Thursday to hold a vote of confidence for the new government of Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Allawi as a quorum could not be reached.
Information about when the vote will be held was not shared in a statement.
The delay prolongs the political deadlock after Iraq has been rocked by mass protests since October for poor living conditions and high unemployment, forcing Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi to resign.
More than 600 people have been killed and 17,000 injured since protests erupted, according to an Iraqi human rights group.
Sitting premier Adil Abdul-Mahdi announced Nov. 29 his government would step down March 2 following a constitutional deadline during which parliament should approve a new cabinet.
He warned of a constitutional vacuum if parliament failed to approve the new government by that date.
* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz -