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Iraq's President Asks Haidar Al-Abadi To Form New Government

August 11, 2014
by RFE/RL

Reports say Iraq's president has asked senior Shi'ite politician Haidar al-Abadi to form a new government.

The reported move by President Fuad Masum came after Iraq's main Shi'ite parliamentary bloc, the National Alliance, nominated Abadi as prime minister instead of incumbent Nuri al-Maliki. Abadi is currently the first deputy parliament speaker.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden welcomed Masum's decision, and expressed Washington's 'full support for his role as guarantor of the Iraqi Constitution.'

Maliki has been accused of fueling sectarian violence as the country is battling an Islamist insurgency, but he has refused calls by Sunni, Kurdish, and fellow Shi'ite politicians to step down.

Maliki, who has been premier since 2006, is serving in a caretaker capacity since an inconclusive election in April.

He has made clear he wants to stand for a third term and has accused the president of violating constitutional rules by delaying his nomination.

Earlier on August 11, Iraq's highest court appeared to back Maliki's bid for a third term when it ruled that the largest party in parliament should nominate the prime minister.

The National alliance -- which includes Maliki's State of Law party -- is the largest bloc in parliament.

Washington has said it 'fully supports' Masum in his role as 'guarantor of the Iraqi Constitution.'

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on August 11 said the formation of a stable government is 'critical' and warned Maliki not to stir trouble.

Shi'ite militiamen and security forces loyal to Maliki reportedly were deployed around Baghdad on August 11. There were no reports of violence.

The deadlock over a new government has plunged Iraq into a political crisis at a time when Islamic State (IS) militants are advancing in the north of the country.

The United States has already launched four waves of air strikes to support Peshmerga forces battling the Islamic State, formerly known as ISIL, around Irbil, the regional capital of the autonomous Kurdish region.

The militants have seized large swaths in northern and western Iraq since they began their offensive in June.

Senior U.S. officials said on August 11 that the United States has begun directly providing weapons to the Kurdish forces.

Following the launch of U.S. air strikes last week, the Peshmerga have started to make some modest gains against the militants.

But on August 11, police said IS fighters had seized the town of Jalawla, 115 kilometers northeast of Baghdad, after driving out Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

President Barack Obama authorized the air strikes to protect U.S. interests and personnel in the region, including at facilities in Irbil, as well as Yazidi and Christian refugees fleeing the militants' advance.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and dpa

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iraq-court- maliki-masum/26524624.html

Copyright (c) 2014. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.