Iraq’s parliament is unlikely to open as Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi — a Shiite — had not yet signed the presidential council order to convene the new assembly, a top government official said Tuesday. “All three members of the presidential council have to sign the order announcing the start of the parliament and Mr. Mahdi has not yet signed for reasons best known to him,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. “Due to this there is a possibility that the parliament may not convene on March 12 as there is also a strong demand from the Shiite leaders to postpone it,” the official said. Full Story