Iraq's parliament will meet Thursday to "elect the president", speaker Mohammed al-Halbussi's office said, in a surprise move seen as trying to end months of political impasse.

The oil-rich country has yet to form a new government after general elections more than a year ago, and the parliament has already made three failed attempts this year to elect a new head of state, in February and March.

Halbussi's office said Tuesday that the parliamentary session in two days' time would have "a single item on the agenda, the election of the president of the Republic".

Iraqis last voted on October 10, 2021 in a general election brought forward by a wave of mass protests against endemic corruption, rampant unemployment and decaying infrastructure.

Ahead of Halbussi's announcement, the United Nations mission had urged political factions to end the deadlock, warning that "Iraq is running out of time".

Iraq's rival Shiite Muslim political factions have been vying for influence and the right to select a new premier and form a government, with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi left in charge in a caretaker capacity.

The standoff has seen both sides set up protest camps, and at times has sparked deadly street clashes in Baghdad.

- 'Stifling crisis' -

On one hand is the fiery cleric Moqtada Sadr, who wants parliament dissolved and new elections.

On the other sits the Coordination Framework -- an alliance of pro-Iran Shiite factions including former paramilitaries -- that wants a new government before fresh elections are held.

Tensions boiled over on August 29 when more than 30 Sadr supporters were killed in clashes with Iran-backed factions and the army in Baghdad's Green Zone, the capital's fortified government and diplomatic district.

On August 30, current President Barham Saleh urged "new, early (general) elections in accordance with a national consensus", saying these could provide "an exit from the stifling crisis".

The largely honorific post of Iraqi president is traditionally reserved for a Kurd.

It generally goes to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), while the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) keeps control over the affairs of autonomous Kurdistan in northern Iraq.

But the KDP is also eyeing the presidency and could present its own candidate on Thursday.

There are currently two obvious contenders: the PUK's Saleh, the incumbent, and current Kurdistan Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed of the KDP.

- 'Escalation' -

Sajad Jiyad, researcher at think tank Century International, said he expected a quorum -- 220 deputies out of the 329 in parliament -- to be reached and for the vote to go ahead.

But he said much depended on whether the PUK and KDP could compromise.

"Has the (Coordination) Framework managed to convince the PUK and the KDP to come to an agreement?

"Will there be one candidate? Will it be Barham? Or two candidates, Barham and someone the KDP backs?" he said.

Political scientist Ali al-Baidar said the PUK's Abdul Latif Rashid, a former water resources minister, was a potential consensus candidate.

He pointed to the Coordination Framework's recent "accelerated action to end the crisis and take the reins of power again".

Once parliament elects a new president, that person must then designate a prime minister, who is chosen by the largest coalition in parliament.

Jiyad said that if a president were elected, the likely candidate for premier would be Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the Coordination Framework's choice for the post.

With the government formation moving ahead, "the Sadrists are not likely to be happy", Jiyad said.

"Maybe they will encourage protests and prepare for the next elections."

Baidar said he thought the Sadrists would give their green light in exchange for "a certain number of ministries" in the new government, including key portfolios.

However, he warned, the other scenario would be "escalation".

12 months of political turmoil in Iraq
Baghdad (AFP) Oct 11, 2022 - The Iraqi parliament meets on Thursday to elect the country's president in a move aimed at ending a nearly year-long crisis triggered by contested elections.

Here is a timeline of 12 months of political turmoil which has periodically spilled over onto the streets.

- October 2021: Early elections -

On October 10, 2021, Iraq holds early parliamentary elections aimed at defusing youth-led protests that erupted in late 2019 over corruption and crumbling public services.

Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr's political movement, which was already the biggest in parliament and campaigned on a nationalist, anti-corruption agenda, increases its tally of seats.

His rivals in the pro-Iranian Fatah alliance, representing the former paramilitary alliance Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces), suffer sharp losses. They reject the results.

- November 2021: attempt to kill PM -

Weeks of tensions follow.

Hashed al-Shaabi supporters stage a sit-in at an entrance to Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, home to government buildings and foreign embassies.

On November 5, one demonstrator is shot dead in clashes between security forces and several hundred supporters of pro-Iran groups.

On the night of November 6, outgoing Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi escapes unharmed in an assassination attempt at his Green Zone residence.

No group claims responsibility for the attack.

- Political wrangling -

Amid the protests, Iraq's political parties try to form a government.

The main Shiite parties traditionally form a coalition, irrespective of how many parliamentary seats each has won.

But Sadr infuriates his Shiite rivals by insisting on trying to form a "majority government" with his own movement's Sunni Muslim and Kurdish allies.

On November 30, the final election results confirm the Sadrists' victory, with the bloc winning 73 out of 329 parliamentary seats, compared with 17 for the Fatah alliance, down from 48 previously.

- January 2022: Stormy first session -

On January 9, 2022, the new parliament elects Sunni Muslim speaker Mohammed al-Halbussi, in a stormy first session.

The vote is boycotted by the pro-Iran Coordination Framework, which draws together the Fatah alliance and lawmakers from the party of Sadr's longtime foe, former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki.

- Feb-March 2022: No new president -

Parliament holds three failed attempts to elect a new Iraqi president between February 7 and March 30.

The largely ceremonial role conventionally goes to a member of Iraq's Kurdish minority.

The president's election usually paves the way for the designation of a prime minister and the formation of a new government.

- June 2022: Pro-Sadr MPs resign -

On June 10, all 73 pro-Sadr MPs resign in order to pressure their rivals to fast-track the formation of a government.

Their seats go to the candidates who came second, making the pro-Iran bloc the biggest in parliament.

- July 2022: unrest after PM nominated -

On July 25, the pro-Iran Coordination Framework nominates former minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, 52, for premier.

Outraged Sadr supporters breach the Green Zone on July 27 and stage a brief sit-in in parliament.

Three days later, they return in their thousands and vow to stay "until further notice".

On August 12, Coordination Framework supporters begin their own sit-in near the Green Zone, calling for the swift formation of a new government.

- August 2022: Sadr quits politics -

On August 29 Sadr announces his "definitive retirement" from politics and the closure of "all the institutions" linked to his Sadrist movement.

Thousands of his supporters storm the government palace inside the Green Zone.

At least 30 Sadr supporters are shot dead in 24 hours in fighting with rival Shiite factions and a national curfew is decreed. They withdraw after Sadr calls on them to do so.

- October 11: New election for president -

On October 11, speaker Halbussi's office announces that parliament will meet on October 13 to "elect the president".

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