Parliament elects Barham Salih as new president of Iraq

Iraq's Parliament has elected a veteran Kurdish Politician Barham Salih as the country's new President. He has named Shiite Adel Abdul Mahdi as Prime Minister of the country. The move will pave the way to form a new government, nearly five months after national elections. 

State TV said, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Salih won 220 votes out of the 273 lawmakers who attended yesterday's session. He was among 20 candidates for the post, including one from the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party. 

The two



parties have dominated Kurdish politics for decades. Under an unofficial agreement dating back to the 2003 US-led invasion, Iraq's presidency - a largely ceremonial role - is held by a Kurd, while the Prime Minister is Shiite and the Parliament Speaker is Sunni.

Iraq held elections in May 12. The new President will have 15 days to task the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a new government. The Prime Minister-designate will then have 30 days to submit his cabinet to parliament.