Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has declared himself the head of the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, only a few days after he dismissed their former leader over alleged involvement in “political and partisan work.”  

The Iraqi parliament has held its first session since May’s national election, which signals important progress in forming a new government, but failed to elect a speaker.

Iraq’s senior Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has urged the formation of a new government as soon as possible in the wake of protests against alleged government corruption and poor public services in southern cities.