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Middle East

Scuffles in Iraq's parliament following stalled Cabinet vote

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Lawmakers, 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)

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    Image 2 of 3

    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)

  • 6de7e07a-
    Image 3 of 3

    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)

BAGHDAD – Iraqi lawmakers have resorted to throwing water bottles and punching each other a day after a vote on a new Cabinet was postponed.

Wednesday's chaotic scenes reflect a growing political crisis in Iraq, even as the country wages war against the Islamic State.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, following weeks of pressure from an influential Shiite cleric and thousands of his followers, drafted a list of new ministerial nominees.

Lawmakers were to vote on the make-up on Tuesday but the vote was postponed, prompting dozens of legislators to begin a sit-in inside parliament, demanding al-Abadi and others step down.

The scuffles broke out between the protesting lawmakers and others who tried to continue the previous day's session.

Shiite lawmaker Kadhim al-Saydi, one of the protesters, said al-Abadi should "resign immediately."

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