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Ninevah governor's election stirs Sunni split in Baghdad

The Ninevah Provincial Council has chosen a new governor close to the Shiite-dominated Popular Mobilization Units, prompting objections from many Sunnis.
Fighters of Hashed Al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization units) flash the victory gesture as they advance through a street in the town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, after the Iraqi government announced the launch of the operation to retake it from Islamic State (IS) group control, on August 26, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE        (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)

BAGHDAD — A heated gubernatorial election in Ninevah province has fired up division in Iraq's parliament, riling members of its largest Sunni alliance and portending changes in some key positions.

Out of the 39 members of the Ninevah Provincial Council, 28 voted May 13 to elect Mansour Marid as the new governor to succeed Nofal al-Akoub (also known as Nawfal Hammadi). The Iraqi parliament had dismissed Akoub after an overloaded ferry sank in March, killing about 100 people. He was accused of negligence and corruption.

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