Maliki claims foul play as Abadi’s support grows
After key Maliki allies turn, Haider al-Abadi tasked with forming government, though his ascension to PM is hardly assured.
Iraqis hold giant portraits of Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during a demonstration to support him on Aug. 11, 2014 in Baghdad's central Saadoun Street after Maliki said he was filing a complaint against the president for violating the constitution. (AMER AL-SAEDI/AFP/Getty Images)
Three quarters of the members of the pan-Shia National Alliance turned against Nouri al-Maliki on Monday, backing Deputy Parliament Speaker Haider al-Abadi, a former Maliki stalwart and Dawa Party leader, to take over as prime minister.
By late afternoon, Abadi was on television with President Fuad Massum and other former Maliki allies being formally and publicly tasked with forming the next government. Meanwhile, Maliki's remaining supporters took to local and social media, threatening lawsuits and alleging violations of the constitution.
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