Iraqi parliament plagued by absenteeism

BAGHDAD, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Iraq's Parliament in Baghdad has all but come to a standstill because of months of high absenteeism and legislators living outside the country, a report said.

Frustrated parliamentary Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashadani has announced members will be fined $400 for each session they miss, and said those who fail to attend a yet-to-be determined minimum number of sessions would be replaced.

Since November, as few as 65 legislators have shown up for sessions, which had to be adjourned for a lack of a quorum in the 275-seat body, the International Herald Tribune reported Wednesday.

Parliamentarians earn salaries and benefits worth about $120,000, and are also given funding for personal security. Mashadani noted former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi lives in London and Amman, Jordan, while another legislator moved to Abu Dhabi.

Monday was the first time since November a quorum of 50 percent plus one was present, with 189 members attending, the newspaper said. It was helped by the return of 30 members loyal to the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who called an end to a two-month political boycott.