Iraqi Parliamentary Session Suspended

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The Iraqi parliament postponed its session Sunday after the main political blocs failed to agree on candidates for key security posts, the deputy speaker said.

The decision came as violence surged in the country and despite urgent last-minute efforts by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad to hammer out an agreement between Iraq's fractious ethnic and sectarian groups on who will head the Defense and Interior Ministries.

To break the deadlock, Al-Maliki had promised to present candidates Sunday and let parliament decide, but Deputy Speaker Khalid al-Atiya said legislators needed more time.
MyWay