Jamal al-Battikh, former minister for tribal affair and member of the Iraqiya White bloc, field a lawsuit against the presidency of the parliament in order to get his seat in parliament back.

Battikh, who was ousted as minister when his ministry was wound up in early August, had lost his seat when he took office.

"In expect the Federal Court to make a decision within the next couple of days," Battikh said.

On July 30, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ousted a number of ministers and closed down their ministries as part of a bid to streamline an otherwise bloated 42-head cabinet that had come under criticism for being costly and slow.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Aref Tayfur announced back then, that a number of the 13 ministers will take over independent parliamentary agencies, while the remainder will take early retirement.

Battikh is one of eight former members of Iraqiya List, led by former Prime Minister Ayyad Allawi, who left the party and formed Iraqiya White bloc in March.


RN/CU/AKnews