Al-Maliki refuses to step aside as Iraq’s prime minister

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Haider al-Abadi, seems to have the backing of nearly every major political alliance in the country, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to take office as long as the current prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, holds the keys to power in the Iraqi capital.

Al-Maliki made that point clear Wednesday in a televised address in which he once again declared his intent to fight to keep his post.

This time, he announced that al-Abadi’s appointment to succeed him had “no value.” Al-Maliki also warned that chaos might follow if Iraq’s federal court doesn’t side with him in interpreting Iraq’s Constitution in his favor.

His latest defiant speech followed a string of international endorsements for al-Abadi, whom Iraqi President Fouad Massoum selected Monday to be the next prime minister. Al-Abadi has a month to form a new government. He’s indicated that he wants to find an office for al-Maliki.

Al-Abadi’s selection garnered praise from U.S., Iranian and Persian Gulf representatives, who view al-Maliki as an obstacle to forming a unified Iraqi government that can battle Islamic State militants and undercut their support among factions that have felt besieged by Iraq’s security forces during eight years of al-Maliki’s rule.