Iraqi lawmakers elected Sunni Arab politician Hachim al-Hassani as speaker for the National Assembly (parliament) on Sunday. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

Photo shows Hachim al-Hassani was speaking at the Iraqi Parliament meeting on Mar.29, 2005. Iraqi lawmakers elected Sunni Arab politician Hachim al-Hassani as speaker for the National Assembly (parliament) on Sunday. (Xinhua/AFP file photo)

    BAGHDAD, April 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraqi lawmakers elected Sunni Arab politician Hachim al-Hassani as speaker for the National Assembly (parliament) on Sunday, marking the first step toward forming a new government after months of deadlock.

    With the absence of 43 members, including the outgoing Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, the newly elected lawmakers convened for the third time more than two months after the landmark elections.

    At least one explosion was heard near the Green Zone, where the session was being held, but there was no immediately report where it took place and if there was any casualty.

    Lawmakers voted in a secret ballot on the five candidates nominated by the parliament blocs and Hassani garnered 215 votes, which enabled him to get the post.

    Hussein al-Shahristani, a Shiite nuclear scientist, got 157 votes and became the first deputy speaker and the second deputy was Tariq Tayfor, a Kurd who won 96 votes.

    The expected result came after the winning Shiite list issued anultimatum for the Sunni lawmakers to accept Hassani, the incumbent industrial minister more favored by the Shiites.

    Sunni politicians previously preferred to nominate Meshaan al-Jubouri to take the post, but had to have his name withdrawn as a compromise to the complain about his link to the toppled regime.

    The parliament ended its second session last week but failed to agree on the three posts, and the prolonged horse-trading negotiation has provoked anger among Iraqis.

    Iraqi voters who had braved suicide attacks on Jan. 30 to go to polling stations have been disappointed by the failure to form a transitional government.

    Despite the appointment of the speakers, the parliament will still have to debate over the candidacy for the country's president and the cabinet. Enditem