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Iraq names new president and prime minister after months of deadlock

Since Saddam Hussein was toppled in a 2003 US-led invasion, power has been shared among Iraq’s three largest ethnic-sectarian components

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Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and President Barham Saleh. Photo: AP

Kurdish politician Barham Saleh was named the new president of Iraq by lawmakers and quickly tasked Shiite Adel Abdul Mahdi with forming a new government.

However, no matter how speedy the action was Tuesday, it could not disguise the fact that it was nearly five months since the parliamentary election.

Saleh, of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, received 219 of 277 votes, beating out his opponent, Fuad Hussein of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, who got 22 votes, in the second round of the election.

Political tradition dictates that a Kurdish politician serve in the ceremonial post of president.

The role of parliament speaker is traditionally performed by a Sunni Muslim, and the prime minister is a Shiite.

Under Iraq’s constitution, the prime minister-designate has 30 days to present his Cabinet to parliament.

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