Iraq’s Maliki quits to end deadlock

Iraq crisis: Maliki quits as PM to end deadlock

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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has stepped aside, ending political deadlock in Baghdad as the government struggles against insurgents.

He resigned on state TV to make way for Haider al-Abadi, who was asked by Iraq’s president to form a government.

Mr Maliki had been under intense pressure to make way for Mr Abadi, a deputy speaker of parliament.

An offensive led by Islamic State (IS) rebels in the north has triggered a security and humanitarian crisis.

IS, a Sunni Muslim jihadist group formerly known as Isis, seized a large band of territory across northern Iraq and Syria this summer.

The resulting turmoil has driven an estimated 1.2 million Iraqis from their homes.

Paul Wood reports from Mount Sinjar, from where many refugees have escaped, but some ‘stragglers’ remain

‘Brother Abadi’

Appearing on state TV flanked by Mr Abadi and other politicians from the Shia Muslim majority, Mr Maliki spoke of the grave “terrorist” threat from IS before announcing his own exit.

“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 Doctor Haider al-Abadi,” he said.

Analysis: Jim Muir, northern Iraq

His eight years in office, Mr Maliki said, had been spent combating a mounting wave of terrorism and subversion. He insisted that he had stuck to the law and avoided violence even when he had come under personal attack but now, he said, he did not want to be the cause of the shedding of a single drop of blood.

There had been fears that Mr Maliki might use the power base he built up through his control of the armed forces to stay in power.

But, with his own party and the Shia clerical establishment, not to mention influential outside powers such as Iran and America and the entire international community backing Mr Abadi, the writing was clearly on the wall for Mr Maliki’s hopes of clinging to power.

He had been insisting that he should have the right to form the government, as leader of the biggest bloc in parliament.

But his spokesman, Ali Mussawi, told AFP news agency that Mr Maliki was dropping his complaint against President Fuad Masum.

The resignation brought an end to eight years of often divisive rule, when Mr Maliki’s government was accused of favouring the country’s Shia majority.

Mr Abadi is one of Iraq’s most senior politicians, having held several high-profile posts since returning from exile in 2003.

He is regarded by some as a moderate within Mr Maliki’s Dawa party, and has shown more of a willingness to compromise than his predecessor.