The Iraqi parliament failed once again to vote on the candidates for the remaining vacancies in Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s cabinet. Tuesday’s failure reflects the ongoing deep divisions over the key defense and interior portfolios. Deputy Speaker Hassan al-Kaabi said Abdul Mahdi submitted the names of eight candidates who were already rejected in an October session when parliament approved 14 out of the 22 ministers. The vote was disrupted after a chaotic session and postponed until next week. MPs banged on tables shouting “illegitimate”, eventually forcing and end to the session as Abdul Mahdi and his proposed ministers left parliament, one lawmaker said, showing Reuters a video of the session taken on his mobile phone. The MPs were mostly from a grouping led by Sadrist movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr and allies on the list of former premier Haidar al-Abadi, who opposed his picks for the hotly contested interior and defense ministries. Kaabi warned that further delays could have a negative impact on the security situation in Iraq. Abdul Mahdi later said he would let parliament propose a date for the vote, effectively throwing the ball in their court to choose suitable names for the eight portfolios still empty. He told journalists he was “waiting for parliament to give a date to complete the cabinet after they come to an agreement”, saying that a “state of chaos” had prevented the formation of a government, state TV reported. “We will not present more ministers. Parliament (should) vote on the current list, or another list”, state TV quoted the premier as saying. Sadr says candidates not affiliated with political sides must be presented. Iran-backed Hadi al-Ameri wants his ally Falih al-Fayyad for the position of interior minister. Abdul Mahdi said in a statement on Monday he would present Fayyad as his candidate for the interior for parliament to vote on. Sadr and Abadi’s lists refused to attend the session in response but stormed in halfway through, charging that the session did not have a quorum to take place. The new government faces the twin tasks of rebuilding the north of the country following the war against the ISIS terrorist group and rehabilitating services in the south, where severe water and electricity shortages have fueled protests. Protests in the southern city of Basra resumed Tuesday, with hundreds of people demonstrating for improved services.