Iraq's parliament has elected veteran Kurdish politician Fuad Masum as the country's next president, the second step in forming a new government.
Masum, 76, was overwhelmingly elected in a secret vote on July 24.
He will replace Jalal Talabani, who is at the end of his second term.
Iraqi politicians have been in a deadlock over the formation of a new government since an election in April.
Under an informal power-sharing agreement in place since the 2003 ouster of dictator Saddam Hussein, the position of Iraqi president goes to a Kurd.
The parliament speaker -- elected last week -- is a Sunni Muslim, and the prime minister should be a Shi'a.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has ruled since the election in a caretaker capacity, defying demands from the Sunnis and Kurds that he step down.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and dpa
Quiz: Kurds And Kurdish Culture
