Clashes rock Baghdad's Green Zone as Iraqi parliament re-elects speaker
Iraqi parliament re-elected Mohammed al-Halbusi as parliament speaker amid protests and rockets in the Green Zone.
BAGHDAD — As Iraqi lawmakers met today in Baghdad's Green Zone to vote on the recent resignation of parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi, clashes broke out between supporters of Iraqi populist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and security forces.
At least two rockets also landed in the Green Zone this afternoon, according to local media reports.
The parliament met for the first time in two months to vote on Halbusi's resignation that the speaker submitted two days prior. According to the Iraqi Constitution, lawmakers must vote whether to accept or reject the speaker's resignation.
Parliament voted to reject the resignation and keep Halbusi in his post; it also elected Ali Mosen Mandalawi as first deputy.
