Iraqi lawmakers elect Nizar Amedi as country's new president

BAGHDAD, Apr 12: Iraqi lawmakers elected Nizar Amedi as the country's new president on Saturday, following political disputes that delayed the vote and the formation of the next government.
Amedi now has 15 days to appoint a prime minister, who is expected to be former head of government Nouri al-Maliki, despite US concerns over the choice in previous weeks.
The election came against the backdrop of the Middle East war, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 that sparked Iranian retaliation against Israel and across the Gulf.
Amedi was sworn in to succeed Abdul Latif Rashid after winning a majority of lawmaker votes, according to a live broadcast on the official Al-Iraqiya channel.    �"AFP