Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri has cancelled a planned session aimed at discussing anti-graft reforms due to security concerns.

The Saturday session was not held because “parliament couldn't be secured” by the security forces, Iraqi state TV cited a statement from the office of al-Jabouri.

The parliamentary session was canceled as lawmakers challenge the legitimacy of the speaker to chair the meeting in an escalation of a political crisis crippling state institutions.

The MPs were to vote on whether or not Jabouri should remain in power.

Meanwhile, a group of Iraqi parliamentarians earlier announced their withdrawal from a Saturday session to nominate a replacement for the speaker.

Iraqi lawmaker Qasim al-Araji said Saturday that 23 parliamentarians from Badr bloc were withdrawing from the session, apparently leaving it without the necessary quorum.

He warned that the current political rift in the parliament could result in two governments and undermine the fight against Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, which controls swathes of land in the northern and western parts of the country since 2014.