Iraqi speaker post debate continues

BAGHDAD, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- The political climate in the Iraqi Parliament reached a boiling point as lawmakers raised concerns over nominees for the position of Parliament speaker Monday.

Officials lodged complaints that Iyad al-Samirrai with the Sunni Iraq Accordance Front was unfit for the position because he holds a dual Iraq-British citizenship and therefore cannot serve under the Iraqi Constitution, the Iraqi satellite channel al-Sumaria reported.

Sunni lawmakers had scheduled weekend meetings to consider candidates for the position. Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani resigned in December amid disputes over the legal framework for the presence of non-U.S. troops in 2009.

For his part, Firyad Rawandozi with the Kurdistan Alliance said a candidate offered by the Iraqi National List, Osama al-Nujaifi, was a top lawmaker for the position, but may upset political balances in Baghdad, the Voices of Iraq news agency reported.

"Nominating al-Nujaifi for this position is a correct step from a constitutional perspective," Rawandozi said.

Parliament held session Monday with First Deputy Speaker Khalid al-Attiya with the United Iraqi Alliance presiding.