Iraqi prime minister dodges parliament questioning over planned reforms

The prime minister said there were "emergency reasons" behind his sudden departure.

The special parliamentary session was postponed until next week, according to MP Abbas al-Bayati of the National Alliance.

"Abadi had other commitments that prevented him from attending the meeting he was invited to attend," Bayati told al-Araby al-Jadeed. "The session will be held next week, a fixed date will be set for it and it will be attended by the prime minster who will give the required explanations."

Another Iraqi MP from the National Alliance, who requested anonymity, told al-Araby: "Abadi felt like not attending the meeting for fear of embarrassment because he is in the first stages of reforms, and wasn't yet able to apply the serious reforms of the judicial institutions or hold senior corrupt officials to account - a matter that could put him in an awkward position among the Iraqi population."

Severe political differences are plaguing the country, after politicians failed to agree the text of the National Guard and General Amnesty laws.

The financial crisis is also hitting the country hard, threatening government with bankruptcy within a few months due to the depletion of the country's resources in the fight against Islamic State group, low oil prices and the worsening internal refugee crisis.