Iraq's al-Maliki signals his intent to stay in job
Source: AP-EXCITE
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's embattled prime minister vowed Friday to fight until the Islamic militants who have overrun much of the country are defeated, suggesting he won't step down despite pressure for him to do so.
Framing the debate over his future in democratic terms, Nouri al-Maliki sought to remind Iraqis — including his political rivals — that voters handed his State of Law bloc the most seats in parliament in April elections, and that he must "stand by them during this crisis that Iraq is passing through." His bloc won the most seats but failed to gain a majority, meaning he needs allies in order to form a government.
The Sunni insurgent blitz that began early last month and swept across much of northern and western Iraq has been fueled in part by grievances among the country's Sunni Muslim minority with al-Maliki and his Shiite-led government. Al-Maliki, who has held the post since 2006, is being pressed to step aside, with even some of his former allies blaming his failure to promote reconciliation for fueling Sunni support for the insurgency.
Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has even pressed lawmakers to quickly form a new government that can confront the militant threat and unite the country. Lawmakers failed in their first session of parliament on Tuesday to make any progress.
FULL story at link.
Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr attend open-air Friday prayers in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, July 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Read more: By RYAN LUCAS and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
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