Iraq's new President Barham Salih, center right, walks with new Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, center left, in the parliament building in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. Iraq's new president has tasked veteran Shiite politician Abdul-Mahdi with forming a new government nearly five months after national elections were held, state TV reported late Tuesday. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
The Associated Press
BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's new president is set to take office after tapping an independent Shiite lawmaker for the post of prime minister.
Barham Salih, a longtime Kurdish politician, will assume power in a formal handover ceremony on Wednesday, a day after being elected and sworn in by parliament. Under an unofficial agreement dating back to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, Iraq's presidency - a largely ceremonial role - is held by a Kurd, while the prime minister is Shiite and the parliament speaker is Sunni.
Salih has tasked Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a former vice president, with forming a government. He has 30 days to submit his cabinet to parliament for approval.
No single party won an outright majority in national elections in May. Two Shiite-led blocs claim to have majority support in the legislature.
Newly elected Iraq President Barham Salih, center, leaves the parliament building in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. Iraq's parliament elected a veteran Kurdish politician as the country's new president on Tuesday, a step toward forming a new government nearly five months after national elections. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
The Associated Press
Iraq's new Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, center, leaves the parliament building in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. Iraq's new president has tasked veteran Shiite politician Abdul-Mahdi with forming a new government nearly five months after national elections were held, state TV reported late Tuesday. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
The Associated Press