Iraq crisis: Nouri al-Maliki is ‘taking Iraq to hell’ by rejecting salvation government
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is rejecting calls for an interim national salvation government that would seek to represent all Iraqi communities, claiming that such a government, under which he would step down, would be a coup against the constitution.
Mr Maliki is opposed by the Sunni, Kurds, several Shia parties, the US and the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the Shia spiritual leader. To have a chance of keeping his job he would need the full support of Iran, which does not want him to be replaced by a pro-American prime minister.
Speaking today, Mr Maliki said: We desperately need to take a comprehensive national stand to defeat terrorism, which is seeking to destroy our gains of democracy and freedom, set our differences aside and join efforts.
Ghassan al-Attiyah, a political scientist and activist, said: By staying on Maliki is playing into the hands of Sunni extremists. He is taking Iraq to hell.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-crisis-nouri-almaliki-is-taking-iraq-to-hell-by-rejecting-salvation-government-9563433.html