Baghdad, Muharram 23, 1440, October 03, 2018, SPA -- Iraqi President Barham Salih on Tuesday formally assigned Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to form a new Iraqi government. Barham Salih handed over the government formation file to Abdul Mahdi, who has to present his cabinet to parliament in 30 days. The Iraqi parliament elected the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan candidate Barham Saleh as president of the republic, earlier in the day. --SPA 03:31 LOCAL TIME 00:31 GMT 0042 www.spa.gov.sa/w759767