http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi state TV: Nouri al-Maliki has given up the post of prime minister to Haider al-Abadi.
I know everyone is rightly focused on the events in Ferguson, but it's important to correct some misinformation from earlier in the week. This is just breaking, so I'm sure updates will be forthcoming.
Update 1:
Nuri al-Maliki has stepped down as Iraq's prime minister, making way for Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi to become the leader, Iraqi State Television reported in a urgent banner on Thursday.
Update 2, thanks to Mokurai. Looks like Maliki will back his replacement.
The Iraqi government says embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is to address the nation, as Shiite lawmakers say he has agreed to step aside and support his nominated replacement in the post.
A note of caution - this news is breaking within just the last twenty minutes or so. It seems that major news agencies and Iraqi lawmakers are going on the record that this is true, but of course the situation in Iraq is very volatile and many of the people speaking on this matter may have a political stake in what they say. Please be wary of unconfirmed reports and speculation.
Update 3: Maliki's announcement live on Iraq state TV.
Update 4, from Al Jazeera:
"Maliki will withdraw the complaint against the president and will back the prime minister designate," Ali Mussawi, Maliki's spokesman, told the AFP news agency, referring to a lawsuit the outgoing premier had vowed to file.
I am looking for an English transcript of Maliki's remarks, which just finished.
Update 5: John Harwood of CNBC says Maliki has resigned, but before the actual speech was made.
Update 6: Some quotations from Bloomberg:
“In order to ease the political process and the formation of the new government, I announce in front of you today that I am withdrawing my bid for prime minister,” Maliki said in a televised address last night with Abadi standing at his side.
Maliki said last night that he didn’t want to be the reason for a drop of blood to be spilled and called on other lawmakers to back Iraq’s constitution as they confronted the terror group. Referring to Abadi by name, he said the decision was “for the higher benefit of the country.”