BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraq's National Assembly, 100-member interim parliament, has chosen Fuad Massum as the first speaker of the body.

The 100-member interim parliament gathered Wednesday in Baghdad to start its inaugural session, which is to last for four days with a break on Friday, reported China Radio International. 

    The assembly, which consists of 81 elected members and 19 former members of the defunct US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, is regarded as a government watchdog.

    It has the power to approve the national budget and can veto some government decisions with a two-thirds majority vote.

    The body will help shepherd the nation to elections scheduled for January next year. Enditem