Nouri al-Maliki finally bowed to
pressure to step down as prime minister, paving the way for a new
coalition that world and regional powers hope will quash the Islamic
State insurgency
Nouri al-Maliki ended eight years of often divisive, sectarian rule by endorsing fellow Shi'ite Haider al-Abadi.
In a televised speech, he stood next to his successor and spoke of the grave threat from Sunni Islamic State militants who have taken over large areas of northern Iraq
'I announce before you today, to ease the movement of the political process and the formation of the new government, the withdrawal of my candidacy in favour of brother Dr Haider al-Abadi,' Maliki said.
Nouri al-Maliki said his decision reflected a desire to 'safeguard the high interests of the country' adding that he would not be the cause of any bloodshed
The move will likely please Iraq's Sunni minority, which dominated Iraq under Saddam Hussein's iron rule but was sidelined by Maliki, a relative unknown when he came to power in 2006 with U.S. backing.
Nouri al-Maliki had resisted months of pressure to step down from Sunnis, Kurds, some fellow Shi'ites, Shi'ite regional power Iran and the United States.
A graphic showing the movement of displaced Iraqis, in large part as a result of the Islamic State uprising
Nouri al-Maliki ended eight years of often divisive, sectarian rule by endorsing fellow Shi'ite Haider al-Abadi.
In a televised speech, he stood next to his successor and spoke of the grave threat from Sunni Islamic State militants who have taken over large areas of northern Iraq
'I announce before you today, to ease the movement of the political process and the formation of the new government, the withdrawal of my candidacy in favour of brother Dr Haider al-Abadi,' Maliki said.
Nouri al-Maliki said his decision reflected a desire to 'safeguard the high interests of the country' adding that he would not be the cause of any bloodshed
The move will likely please Iraq's Sunni minority, which dominated Iraq under Saddam Hussein's iron rule but was sidelined by Maliki, a relative unknown when he came to power in 2006 with U.S. backing.
Nouri al-Maliki had resisted months of pressure to step down from Sunnis, Kurds, some fellow Shi'ites, Shi'ite regional power Iran and the United States.
A graphic showing the movement of displaced Iraqis, in large part as a result of the Islamic State uprising
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