Iraq speaker urges action by MPs

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Iraq's parliamentary speaker has urged MPs to resolve a range of intractable disputes as the house resumes work after a four-week summer recess.

"Iraq is looking to you for a solution," Mahmoud Mashhadani told MPs.

Decisions are needed on key issues, including a provincial elections law, the oil industry's future and a planned long-term security pact with the US.

MPs met in the US-guarded Green Zone despite an announcement that the session would be held outside.

"I urge the MPs to speed up the culture of concord and participation and not get caught up in a maze that would take us back to square one," Mr Mashhadani, said during the brief session.

When parliament broke up in June, it was sad that the autumn session would convene at Baghdad's national assembly building, but security measures are not yet in place.

MPs have been meeting at the convention centre in the heavily-guarded Green Zone since 2005 under protection of US forces.

Before the summer recess, MPs hotly debated the provincial election law, with the Kurdish bloc objecting to its application in the northern province of Tamim, whose main city Kirkuk is claimed by both Arab and Kurdish sides.

Tuesday's session began two hours late because there were not enough MPs for a quorum at the scheduled start of business.