Iraq parliament to meet again amid protest, deepening crisis

Lawmakers who held a sit-in overnight inside the parliament building gather during a news conference, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. For the second consecutive day, at least one hundred lawmakers from Shiite and Sunnis, have continued holding a sit-in inside the hall of meetings of the parliament, protesting at the postponement of vote on the technocrat cabinet. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

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Members of parliament, who held a sit-in overnight inside the parliament building, stand during a news conference, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. For the second consecutive day, at least one hundred lawmakers from Shiite and Sunnis, have continued holding a sit-in inside the hall of meetings of the parliament, protesting at the postponement of vote on the technocrat cabinet. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

Members of parliament, who held a sit-in overnight inside the parliament building, gather during a news conference, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. For the second consecutive day, at least one hundred lawmakers from Shiite and Sunnis, have continued holding a sit-in inside the hall of meetings of the parliament, protesting at the postponement of vote on the technocrat cabinet. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

BAGHDAD – Iraq's parliament is set to convene again amid a deepening crisis roiling the house where dozens of legislators are holding a sit-in protest for the third consecutive day.

Thursday's session was scheduled after parliament speaker, Salim al-Jibouri, formally called for the chamber to be dissolved as scuffles broke out inside the parliament on Wednesday.

Lawmakers staging the sit-in, both Sunni and Shiite, have demanded Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the country's entire leadership resign.

Earlier this week, parliament delayed a vote on new Cabinet ministers proposed by al-Abadi in an attempt to push through reforms, nearly nine months after he first proposed austerity measures that he claimed would also tackle corruption.

Sunni lawmaker Raad al-Dahlaki says if the parliament is dissolved, which he doubts, the move would force new elections.