Iraq's parliament is set to hold its first session on Monday since holding a vote last month amid a lack of consensus between Sunni parties over the election of a new speaker.
This month, the country's federal supreme court ratified the results of the parliamentary elections, kicking off the gruelling government formation process.
The parliament is set to convene for the new term's first meeting, during which it elects the speaker and two deputies, and swears in its 329 newly-elected members.
The session will be chaired by Amer Al Fayez, the eldest Member of Parliament and head of the Shiite Tasmim Alliance.
According to an informal power-sharing agreement introduced after the US invasion in 2003, the role of the speaker is reserved for a Sunni politician, while the presidency lies with the Kurds and the prime minister must be Shiite.
But Monday's session comes at a time of political disputes between Sunni parties over the candidate for the speakership.
Iraq's National Political Council, made up of most of the Sunni blocs, on Sunday nominated Haibat Al Halbousi of the Taqadum Party's for the position. He is the cousin of the party's leader and former parliament speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi.
Sunday's meeting was aimed at unifying the Sunni blocs behind a single candidate.
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