Maliki Agrees to Step Aside, Easing Iraq’s Political Crisis
Embattled Iraqi leader Nouri al-Maliki has agreed to make way for a new prime minister, a member of his political bloc said Thursday, conceding defeat after a tense political standoff.
Maliki will back rival Haider al-Abadi, who has been appointed to form a new government, the politician said.
Maliki had provoked a political crisis by refusing to give up his position after eight years in power and ordering security forces into the streets of Baghdad. He had argued that the appointment of Abadi on Monday to form a government was unconstitutional and had launched a legal case against the president over the perceived breach.
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