Sunni Arabs failed to pick a vice presidential candidate for Iraq’s next coalition government after their meeting in Baghdad dissolved into curses and shouting within a divided community now out of power.

“We must be tough, Kurds and Shiites want everything!” shouted one of those in attendance as they took turns to speak.

Members of the so-called National Front met one day after the newly elected parliament chose fellow Sunni Hajem al-Hassani as speaker, following an objection by Shiites over another controversial candidate they had proposed.

The Sunnis, who largely boycotted the elections, are being offered the speakership, one of the vice presidential posts and four to six cabinet posts in the prospective coalition government.

Shiites and Kurds, who dominated the January elections but are still trying to form a government, are trying to reach out to the embittered community, which is accused of leading the relentless insurgency.

Parliament was set to meet again on Wednesday to try to elect a presidency council, made up of a vice president and two deputies.

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