The Iraqi parliament convened on Tuesday to vote on Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's new government, as female lawmakers objected to the proposed cabinet consisting only of men, DPA reported.
For the first time since the 2003 US-led invasion, the new government does not appear to include any women.
"We will vote because we do not want to punish the Iraqi people who waited for so long for this," said lawmaker Ala Talabani, who addressed the parliament representing female lawmakers.
"Women today feel that democracy was killed in Iraq due to discrimination," Talabani added.
After her speech, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told parliament that he asked each political bloc to nominate women.
"I received only one female nomination. This is why I am postponing the vote on some ministries," al-Maliki said.
Al-Maliki's government consists of 42 ministerial posts. Reports suggest the parliament will vote only on 25 posts Tuesday.
"I will not come back until the political blocs nominate some women for the ministerial posts," he added.
After disagreements delayed the vote for a day, the parliament was to vote Tuesday on al-Maliki's cabinet, which will be divided among the main factions according to the seats they won last March 7.
...