By The Associated Press
BAGHDAD — Iraq's new president on Monday snubbed the powerful
incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and nominated the deputy
parliament speaker to form the new government, raising fears of more
political infighting as country faces the threat of Islamic State militants in the north.
incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and nominated the deputy
parliament speaker to form the new government, raising fears of more
political infighting as country faces the threat of Islamic State militants in the north.
In a televised address, President Fouad Massoum gave Haider al-Ibadi,
who was selected by a coalition of Shiite political parties, 30 days to
form a new government and present it to parliament for approval.
who was selected by a coalition of Shiite political parties, 30 days to
form a new government and present it to parliament for approval.
See also: How Obama Helped Extremism Grow in Iraq
The ceremony came hours after the embattled al-Maliki delivered a
surprise speech at midnight accusing Massoum of blocking his
reappointment as prime minister and carrying out "a coup against the
constitution and the political process."
surprise speech at midnight accusing Massoum of blocking his
reappointment as prime minister and carrying out "a coup against the
constitution and the political process."
Critics say al-Maliki, a Shiite, contributed to the crisis facing the
country by monopolizing power and pursuing a sectarian agenda that
alienated the country's Sunni and Kurdish minorities.
country by monopolizing power and pursuing a sectarian agenda that
alienated the country's Sunni and Kurdish minorities.
Al-Ibadi's
nomination came hours after al-Maliki deployed his elite security
forces in the streets of Baghdad as hundreds of his supporters rallied,
raising fears that he might use force to stay in power.
nomination came hours after al-Maliki deployed his elite security
forces in the streets of Baghdad as hundreds of his supporters rallied,
raising fears that he might use force to stay in power.
The new political crisis in Baghdad has raised concerns abroad.
Speaking to reporters in Sydney, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry
said the U.S. stands "absolutely squarely behind President Massoum," and
called for restraint.
said the U.S. stands "absolutely squarely behind President Massoum," and
called for restraint.
"What we urge the people of Iraq to do is to be calm," Kerry said.
"There should be no use force, no introduction of troops or militias
into this moment of democracy for Iraq."
"There should be no use force, no introduction of troops or militias
into this moment of democracy for Iraq."
Kerry said a new government "is critical in terms of sustaining the
stability and calm in Iraq," and that "our hope is that Mr. Maliki will
not stir those waters."
stability and calm in Iraq," and that "our hope is that Mr. Maliki will
not stir those waters."
U.S. reportedly arming Kurds in north
Also Monday, senior U.S. officials said the Obama administration, which launched airdrops and airstrikes last week to support Kurdish and Iraqi forces battling the Islamic State
group, has begun directly providing weapons to the Kurdish peshmerga
forces who have started to make gains against the militants.
group, has begun directly providing weapons to the Kurdish peshmerga
forces who have started to make gains against the militants.
U.S. airstrikes have reinvigorated Iraqi Kurdish forces battling the
Islamic State, and on Sunday, the Kurdish peshmerga fighters retook two
towns — Makhmour and al-Gweir, some 28 miles (45 kilometers) from the
Kurdish capital of Irbil — from the Sunni militants in what was one of
their first victories after weeks of retreat.
Islamic State, and on Sunday, the Kurdish peshmerga fighters retook two
towns — Makhmour and al-Gweir, some 28 miles (45 kilometers) from the
Kurdish capital of Irbil — from the Sunni militants in what was one of
their first victories after weeks of retreat.
The move to directly arm the Kurds underscores the level of U.S.
concern about the Islamic State's gains. The officials wouldn't say
which U.S. agency is providing the arms or what weapons are being sent,
but one official said it isn't the Pentagon. The CIA has historically
done similar quiet arming operations. The officials spoke on condition
of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the operation
publicly.
concern about the Islamic State's gains. The officials wouldn't say
which U.S. agency is providing the arms or what weapons are being sent,
but one official said it isn't the Pentagon. The CIA has historically
done similar quiet arming operations. The officials spoke on condition
of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the operation
publicly.
President Barack Obama warned Americans on Saturday
that the new campaign to bring security in Iraq requires military and
political changes and "is going to be a long-term project."
that the new campaign to bring security in Iraq requires military and
political changes and "is going to be a long-term project."
Obama said Iraqi security forces need to revamp to effectively mount
an offensive, which requires a government in Baghdad that the Iraqi
military and people have confidence in. He said Iraq needs a prime
minister — an indication suggesting he's written off the legitimacy of
the incumbent, al-Maliki.
an offensive, which requires a government in Baghdad that the Iraqi
military and people have confidence in. He said Iraq needs a prime
minister — an indication suggesting he's written off the legitimacy of
the incumbent, al-Maliki.
The militant advances and the political turmoil have deepened Iraq's
humanitarian crisis, with some 200,000 Iraqis recently joining the 1.5
million people already displaced from violence this year.
humanitarian crisis, with some 200,000 Iraqis recently joining the 1.5
million people already displaced from violence this year.
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