IRAQI MPs finally broke their deadlock today, electing Sunni candidate Salim al-Jubouri as the new speaker and taking the first formal step toward a new government.

Mr Jubouri took 194 votes from the 328 members against 19 votes for Shorooq al-Abayachi. There were 60 abstentions.

Applause broke out when it became clear that Mr Jubouri had passed the 165-vote threshold needed to win the post, before the proceedings turned to electing two deputy speakers — one Shi’ite and one Kurd.

According to the constitution, parliament now has 30 days to elect a president, who will then have 15 days to ask the leader of the largest bloc in the legislature to form a government. Then, finally, a prime minister will be picked.

Under an informal agreement cobbled together after the 2003 US-led invasion, the speaker’s chair goes to a Sunni, the presidency to a Kurd and the prime minister’s post to a Shi’ite.