The speaker of the Iraqi parliament resigned today as members authorised non-US troops to stay for another half-year.
Under heavy pressure from Shiite and Kurdish lawmaker, Sunni speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani resigned on the losing end of a long-running power struggle.
Politicians applauded his announcement, quickly approved it. then passed a measure allowing Britain’s 4,000 troops and several smaller contingents from other countries to stay through till July.
“I do believe that I was faithfully doing good work,” he said in his address to the chamber. “If I caused hurt to you, I ask your forgiveness.” Al-Mashhadani has clashed repeatedly with Kurdish and Shiite lawmakers in recent years.
The enmity reached its peak last week in a shouting match over the detention of the journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush.
Within a half-hour of his resignation, parliament approved the troops measure in a voice vote - just a week before the UN mandate authorising foreign troops was to expire.
The new measure will allow non-US troops to stay through and assist US troops until the end of July. The Americans can remain until the end of 2011 under a separate security agreement.
The authorisation for foreign troops became entangled in al-Mashhadani’s quarrel with Kurdish and Shiite lawmakers last week, when he hurled abuse during a session and threatened to resign.
His opponents ultimately forced him to keep his word. In turn, al-Mashhadani tried to delay until January 7th the vote on the foreign troops resolution - a week after the December 31st expiration of the UN mandate.
Britain has already said it plans to withdraw its 4,000 troops from southern Iraq by the end of May. Australia, El Salvador, Estonia and Romania also have troops in Iraq, but much smaller contingents.
Al-Mashhadani has long been at the centre of arguments in the legislature because of his erratic behaviour and abusive language.
He told politicians in behind-the-scenes negotiations that in return for his resignation he wants to be named head of a human-rights association.
The speaker also wanted a guarantee that his post would be filled by someone from a party other than al-Mashhadani’s own Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party, with whom he is also feuding.
The post is usually held by a Sunni and there are a number of Sunni parties in parliament.
It was not immediately known if the lawmakers agreed to the concessions sought by the speaker in exchange fo stepping down, but he retires with a full pension.
He will be temporarily replaced by one of his two deputies. The main Sunni party will then choose a replacement after parliament convenes following Christmas and a number of Islamic holidays.
AP