The parties and blocs made the decision in protest of the appointment of a different bloc as the largest.

It came after the new speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Mohammad Ali Zinni appointed on Monday, September 3, the list of al-Aslah al-Bina as the largest parliament bloc, NRT reported.

The bloc contained those of nationalist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi which will be tasked by the Iraqi President to form the government.

Chaired by eldest parliamentarian, the new Iraqi Parliament held a session on Monday, September 3, for the first time since the May 12 parliamentary elections.

During the session, the MPs who won seats in May 12 election sworn in.

Abadi addressed the new MPs, saying the country wants to build regional relations based on sovereignty, and non-interferences in internal affairs of other states.

“There is no room for any foreign weapons outside the authority of the state,” said Abadi in an apparent reaction to reports that armed Iraqi groups had received ballistic missiles from Iran.

Iraqi President, Fuad Masoum also spoke before the parliament urging for the formation of a country where diversity, transparency and equality are guaranteed and corruption and sectarianism are rejected.

He said it is a historic moment for the fourth term of Iraqi parliament to hold its first session which according to him coincided with “victory over terrorism.”

He further encouraged the new parliament to “contribute to the enrichment of democratic practice in the country” and choose a strong new government.

The session took about 3 hours and was later suspended for one hour.

Reporter’s code: 50101