Hajim al-Hassani

A moderate Sunni Arab and relative outsider, having spent much of his life in the United States, al-Hassani was tapped as a compromise candidate for the speaker's post after weeks of deadlock between Iraqi political parties.

al-Hassani had previously been a member of the Iraqi Islamic Party in exile and was Industry Minister under the interim government of Iyad Allawi.

Hassani returned to Iraq following the U.S. invasion in 2003 and worked with the Interim Iraqi Governing Council appointed during the period of the Coalition Provisional Authority.

As the IIP wielded influence in the dangerous Anbar province, Hassani was involved in negotiating a temporary truce with Fallujah-based insurgents in 2004 and successfully stopped an imminent attack on the city.

Under the Iraqi Interim Government of Iyad Allawi, formed in 2004, Hassani was named industry minister in the new administration.