Iraq parliament backs Trade Minister, ends grilling over graft

BAGHDAD - 17 August 2017: Iraq's parliament on Thursday voted to end its grilling of acting Trade Minister Salman al-Jumali over corruption allegations that mostly stemmed from a ministry deal to import Indian rice in 2016.

Out of 202 members of parliament, 104 voted that they were convinced by Jumali's answers made in Tuesday's session to lawmakers' questions about the deal, Kawa Mohammed, a member of parliament who attended the session, told Reuters.

Another parliament source said it amounted to a vote of confidence in the minister and said there would be no further questioning of Jumali, who had denied the allegations.

Iraq, a major rice and wheat importer, has previously faced graft accusations linked to the Trade ministry, which purchases strategic commodities.