IRAQ: Iraq's parliament has proposed a law to sack members of the National Assembly who repeatedly failed to turn up for work - but the decision was put on hold because too many were absent to hold a vote.
The chamber voted 74 in favour and 71 against the legislation, but deputy speaker Hussein al-Shahristani decided to put proceedings on hold because those opposed said the absentees had a right to vote.
It was not clear why the remaining members of the 275-member parliament had missed work.
"We are in a national assembly and we have to obey its rules," said an assembly member.
Iraq's parliament is portrayed by Iraqi officials and their American supporters as a symbol of democracy after decades of iron-fisted rule under Saddam Hussein.
It meets for long hours locked in heated debates on everything from foreign relations to wheat purchases in a conference hall where birthday parties were once held for Saddam.
Just before arguments on absentee members erupted many issues were discussed, including compensation for victims of relentless suicide bombings and shootings that prompted the construction of blast walls around their building complex.
Parliament sessions are televised live to show Iraqis their new leaders are focusing on the country's problems, including power and water shortages and rampant crime.
But poor attendance in the chamber has raised questions over parliament members, whom officials say are paid much higher salaries than average Iraqis.
The issue came to a head in a heated session one day after politicians wrangled for weeks on a new constitution and handed it to parliament.
"Brothers, to cause panic in this session do you think that the Iraqi people will accept to find the national assembly in this state?" asked Mr Shahristani, a former nuclear scientist jailed by Saddam.
When one of the members of parliament called for a vote recount, Mr Shahristani yelled back, "You can't impose your point of view on the others."
But one member reminded the parliament that they now live in a democracy.
"Doubting is the right of any member in the National Assembly because we don't have computers to count the votes so we have to rely on people."