Iraqi President Asks Abadi to Form Government
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iraq's president on Monday formally asked Haider al-Abadi, the Shiite coalition's nominee for prime minister, to form a government, a spokesman said.
Iraq's president has refused to nominate the country's two time prime minister Nour Al-Maliki for a third term in office.
Instead President Fouad Massoum has nominated Abadi to form a new government, ITV reported.
Al-Maliki has resisted calls to drop his bid to lead the country and he gave a tough speech on television indicating he would not cave in to pressure.
Iraq's highest court has also ruled that he could retain his position because his bloc is the biggest in the country's parliament, according to state television.
