Ahmed al-Massoudi, Sadr Party, waving booklet in his hand

“This is the the Parliamentary Procedure manual, here in my hand. Article 127 of Chapter 15.. Its title: ‘Agreements and Treaties’

Article 127 states…”

Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, interrupting..

“ Stop right there, I beg you. We’ve read this Manual many times. You don’t have to get it out EVERY time. Every time! Every time! EVERY time…!”

Ahmed al-Massoudi, Sadr Party, ignoring him, continues, reading from booklet:

“This Article states that treaties and agreements should be governed by the law, and should be passed by a 2/3 majority of Iraqi MPs.  We have carried out the first reading of this (treaty) law, and we now demand a second reading.. and we also demand a postponement of the 2^nd reading of the US/Iraqi Agreement until we have passed this first law..

We have to pass this law according to Parliamentary rules, which you, Mr Speaker, have always said we had to adhere to..”

Speaker, cutting him off, calls on Qasem Daoud of the Shi’a United Alliance to speak

Qasem  Daoud, UIA, stabbing an accusatory finger at the Speaker

“First of all I wish the Speaker could control his Parliamentary sessions more effectively..” 

Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, indignant

“How do you suggest I control it better?  With a baseball bat..?”

Qasem Daoud continues, unintimidated

“ Secondly, We now have more than 11 violations of…”

Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, now really cross..

“This is NOT your business! Nobody tells us how to do our job! I won’t allow this. The authority rests with us. No-one else interferes in it..!

Qasem Daoud continues, as if he hasn’t heard any of this..

“As I was saying, there have been more than 11 cases of violations..

Speaker cuts off his microphone, but the session continues with the Shi’a MP still arguing off-mic with the Speaker.