Iraqi parliament gives Abadi government two weeks to introduce reforms

Iraq's parliament on Monday gave Prime Minister Haider al Abadi two weeks to present a new cabinet lineup that aimed at fighting graft.

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Selim al Jabouri engaged in verbal clashes with members of Al Ahrar parliamentary bloc which opposed the deadline given to the Iraqi premier considering it relatively long.

The parliament speaker accused the government of slackening in implementing the necessary reforms, noting that he will take an action if the deadline given to Abadi ended without seeing any positive progress in this regard.

He said the parliament did not receive any documents or papers to be probed or deliberated at the parliament regarding reforms so far. 

Powerful Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al Sadr stepped up pressure on Abadi on Sunday by launching a personal sit-in inside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, which houses embassies and government offices, after his supporters began a sit-in at the district's gates more than a week ago.
Source : MENA