This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/11/nouri-al-maliki-iraq-forced-out-prime-minister

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Nouri al-Maliki set to be replaced as Iraq's prime minister Nouri al-Maliki set to be replaced as Iraq's prime minister
(about 1 hour later)
Iraq's embattled prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, appeared to have lost his job on Monday, after the country's president appointed a rival Shia candidate to form a new government. Iraq's embattled prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, appears to have lost his job after the country's president appointed a rival Shia candidate to form a new government.
In a major defeat for Maliki, Iraq's largest coalition of Shia political parties nominated Haider al-Abadi, a member of Maliki's Shia Islamist Dawa party, to take over as prime minister.In a major defeat for Maliki, Iraq's largest coalition of Shia political parties nominated Haider al-Abadi, a member of Maliki's Shia Islamist Dawa party, to take over as prime minister.
Iraq's Kurdish president, Fouad Massoum, formally announced Abadi's appointment soon afterwards. The move is likely to deepen Iraq's political turmoil and comes just hours after Maliki deployed his elite security troops on the streets of Baghdad.Iraq's Kurdish president, Fouad Massoum, formally announced Abadi's appointment soon afterwards. The move is likely to deepen Iraq's political turmoil and comes just hours after Maliki deployed his elite security troops on the streets of Baghdad.
The international community has repeatedly put pressure on Maliki to step down. It says that his divisive sectarian politics have enabled the rise of Islamic State (Isis) militants, who have captured large swaths of the country over the past three months. The international community has repeatedly put pressure on Maliki to step down, believing his divisive sectarian politics had enabled the rise of Islamic State (Isis) militants, who have captured large swaths of the country over the past three months.
But a defiant Maliki has insisted that he has the right to carry on as prime minister following elections in April because he commands the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament. But a defiant Maliki has insisted he has the right to carry on as prime minister following elections in April because he commands the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament.
In a TV address on Sunday he accused Massoum of violating the consitution by failing to name a prime minister within 15 days. Pointedly, he also sent Iraq government forces on Sunday evening to the green zone, the home of Iraq's government, and to the president's residence. In a TV address on Sunday, Maliki accused Massoum of violating the constitution by failing to name a prime minister within 15 days. Pointedly, on Sunday he also sent Iraq government forces to the green zone, the home of Iraq's government, and to the president's residence.
It was unclear whether Maliki will now accept the president's decision or resist attempts to replace him. Abadi, the first deputy speaker of Iraq's parliament, is a member of Maliki's party, which in recent weeks has turned against the prime minister. It was unclear whether Maliki would accept the president's decision or resist attempts to replace him. Under Iraq's constitution he remains prime minister for the next 30 days, until a new cabinet is formed.
His son-in-law, Hussein al-Maliki, said Maliki would seek to overturn Abadi's nomination in the courts. "We will not stay silent. The nomination is illegal and a breach of the constitution. We will go to the federal court to object," he told Reuters.
Abadi, the first deputy speaker of Iraq's parliament, is a member of Maliki's party, which in recent weeks has turned against the prime minister.
State television showed footage of president Massoum shaking hands with Abadi and telling him: "I hope you will be successful in forming a broader-based government."State television showed footage of president Massoum shaking hands with Abadi and telling him: "I hope you will be successful in forming a broader-based government."
Abadi is a low-key figure who spent time in Britain. According to his Facebook biography, his favourite quotation is "the key to leadership is tolerance". Educated at the University of Manchester, Abadi served as the head of the parliament's finance committee, a political advisor to the prime minister and a minister of communications. Abadi is a low-key figure who lived in Britain and graduated in 1981 with a doctorate from Manchester University. According to his Facebook biography, his favourite quotation is "the key to leadership is tolerance". An electrical engineer and businessman, Abadi entered politics after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. He served as the head of the parliament's finance committee, a political advisor to the prime minister and a minister of communications.
The new prime minister swiftly called on Iraqis to unite against the "barbaric" campaign waged by Isis. "We all have to co-operate to stand against this terrorist campaign launched on Iraq and to stop all terrorist groups," Abadi said in remarks broadcast on state television just after the president had asked him to form a government, according to Reuters.The new prime minister swiftly called on Iraqis to unite against the "barbaric" campaign waged by Isis. "We all have to co-operate to stand against this terrorist campaign launched on Iraq and to stop all terrorist groups," Abadi said in remarks broadcast on state television just after the president had asked him to form a government, according to Reuters.
Speaking on Sunday, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, warned Maliki to abide by the constitutional process and not to use his powers as head of the armed forces to cling to office. The UK foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, welcomed Abadi's nomination as Iraq's prime minister designate. He said: "I commend the efforts of President Massoum in carrying out his constitutional duties. It is now vital that a new and fully inclusive government be formed quickly in order to respond to the crisis in Iraq."
Kerry said that any move to circumvent the political process would lead to a cut-off of international aid. He said: "There should be no use of force, no introduction of troops or militias into this moment of democray for Iraq.". Speaking in Australia earlier on Monday, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, warned Maliki to abide by the constitutional process and not to use his powers as head of the armed forces to cling to office.
Kerry said any move to circumvent the political process would lead to a cut-off of international aid. He said: "There should be no use of force, no introduction of troops or militias into this moment of democracy for Iraq.".
Kamran Bokhari, a Middle East specialist at analysis firm Stratfor, said: "Maliki knows it is very difficult to gain a third term and is playing a high-stakes game to try and ensure his authority and influence continue into the new government, despite who may officially become prime minister."
Other analysts said Maliki was increasingly likely to use force to protect his political position. They add that he has consolidated control over the security apparatus by establishing extra-constitutional security bodies. There was now a direct chain of command from commanders to his office, they said.
Meda Al Rowas, an analyst at IHS Country Risk, said Maliki's rivals might seek to remove him using force, raising the prospect of Shia infighting in Baghdad, as well as in southern provinces such as Basra, Najaf and Karbala.