Iraq's parliament failed to elect a new speaker after its second round of secret ballot on Thursday, a parliament official said, Xinhua reported.
"The lawmakers held their second round of secret ballot to vote in a new speaker, but they failed to choose any of the two candidates for the speaker post," an official in the parliament media office told Xinhua.
The lawmakers failed to secure absolute majority votes, namely 138, needed for the speaker post, according to the parliament law, the source said on condition of anonymity because he was authorized to speak to the media.
He said Ayad al-Samarraie was only two votes away from the absolute majority in the 275-seat parliament, while his competitor, Khalil Jadua, gained 81 votes.
Deputy parliament speaker Khalid al-Attiya announced the adjournment of the session to Saturday, the source added.
A total of 234 members of parliament attended Thursday's session to vote in a new speaker to fill the post which has been vacant for about two months, the source added.
The Iraqi parliament frequently failed to vote on a new parliament leader to replace former speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a Sunni Arab politician who was forced to resign by majority of parliament members late last year.
Sunnis have the right to nominate the parliament speaker, according to the country's sectarian-based political system.
The resignation of Mashhadani sparked bitter infighting among Sunni politicians, who threaten to paralyze the parliament and prevent it from passing any legislation until a new speaker is chosen.
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