Iraq's Maliki steps down, backs rival

White House applauds power shift, expresses hope for reconciliation

The decision by Iraq's embattled Nouri al-Maliki to step down as prime minister revived hopes on Friday for the formation of a new government that could take on a growing insurgency by Sunni militants that has engulfed much of the country.

The move, which followed weeks of international and domestic pressure, defuses a political deadlock that has plunged Iraq into uncertainty at a time of the nation's greatest turmoil since the 2011 withdrawal of US troops

Maliki announced on national television on Thursday he was giving up his post. Standing alongside him were senior members of his Shiite Islamic Dawa Party, including his rival and designated successor, Haider al-Abadi.

Maliki said he was stepping aside in favor of his "brother"in order to "facilitate the political process and government formation".

Abadi, a veteran Shiite lawmaker, now faces the immense challenge of trying to unite Iraqi politicians as he tries to cobble together a Cabinet over the next 30 days. The country's major political factions deeply distrust each other, and the army seems unable to regain territory in the north and west taken by militants from the Islamic State group.

Nouri al-Maliki, former Iraqi prime minister

The United States, the UN and a broad array of political factions in Iraq had backed Abadi, saying that only a new leader could unify a country under siege from the Islamic State extremists who have captured large swathes of Iraqi territory.

The crisis in Baghdad escalated when Maliki's Shiite alliance backed Abadi to replace him, and the incumbent threatened legal action, saying the attempt to push him out was a violation of the Constitution.

But in a meeting of his party earlier on Thursday, Maliki agreed to endorse Abadi and drop the lawsuit, two senior lawmakers from his State of Law parliamentary bloc said.

The White House commended Maliki's move and expressed hope that the power shift "can set Iraq on a new path and unite its people" against the threat from Islamic militants, national security adviser Susan Rice said in a statement.

Looming challenges

US Secretary of State John Kerry said the move "sets the stage for a historic and peaceful transition of power in Iraq".

The challenges for al-Abadi are looming.

"The problems and crises left by al-Maliki are huge,"said Aziz Jaber, a political-science professor at Baghdad's Mustansiriyah University. "The first thing Abadi must do is foster real national reconciliation and defuse anger among many Iraqis affected by al-Maliki's unwise policies."

The UN Security Council urged Abadi to work swiftly to form "an inclusive government that represents all segments of the Iraqi population and that contributes to finding a viable and sustainable solution to the country's current challenges".

Iraqis of all sects welcomed Thursday's announcement.

"Now, all we want is a government that respects the people and does not discriminate against them,"said Youssef Ibrahim, 40, a Sunni government employee in Baghdad.