Few lawmakers show for Iraqi 'emergency' parliament session day after suicide bombing

People evacuate the scene of yesterday's bombing in the Parliament Building inside the heavily fortified Green Zone.

BAGHDAD: Few Iraqi lawmakers managed to attend a rare emergency legislative session Friday, a day after a suicide bomber ripped through their cafeteria in a brazen attack inside Baghdad's U.S.-guarded Green Zone...

Friday's emergency meeting had been scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., but began nearly 1.5 hours late — apparently because of low turnout and increased security measures. Many lawmakers were unable to reach the parliament building, whose interior was still in shambles Friday, because of a weekly driving ban on the Muslim day of rest.

"Very few parliament members showed up because of the curfew," said Mohammed Abu Bakr, head of the parliament's media office. "Also the MPs' turnout is very low today because most of them are visiting those who were wounded by the blast," he said.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

Related Link:
At least 2 lawmakers killed as explosion rocks Parliament canteen in major security breach of Green Zone

Related Link:
Perspective: Iraq Parliament Finds a Quorum Hard to Come By