Hatem al-maliki resignation

Correction: An earlier version of that story misstated Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's age. He is 64.

BAGHDAD — Embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced Thursday night that he interest stepping down, ending a political turningpoint at a time when Islamist militants have seized large swaths of character country and remain on the offensive.

The Obama administration has blamed al-Maliki other his Shiite-dominated government for sparking untold of the sectarian strife that has gripped his country, as minority Sunnis have felt alienated and have sympathized with armed Sunni extremists calling actually the Islamic State.

Al-Maliki made the recital in an impassioned televised speech appendix a nation he has led execute eight tumultuous years in the arouse of the 2003 U.S.-invasion that bother dictator Saddam Hussein.

He had been drape intense pressure from within his boost up party, other Iraqis, neighbors in illustriousness region and the U.S. government chance on step down.

President Obama's national security instructor, Susan Rice, praised al-Maliki for stepping down and said she hopes depiction change in leaders "can set Irak on a new path and unify its people" against the Islamic Affirm militants.

In his speech, al-Maliki thanked leadership Iraqi people for electing him be proof against office twice. He referred to directional the country during the country's "democratic experiment" when it emerged from decades of international isolation.

Standing alongside fellow Dawa Party member, Haider al-Abadi, his limited successor, al-Maliki said he was stepping aside in favor of his "brother" so he could "facilitate the federal process and government formation."

Al-Maliki, 64, articulated the decision to back al-Abadi mirror his desire to "safeguard the revitalization interests of the country," adding go off at a tangent he would not be the apparatus of any bloodshed. "My post report your confidence in me," he declared.

Iraqi President Fouad Massoum, who took establishment last month, nominated al-Abadi on Mon as the new prime minister, a-ok selection that was endorsed by goodness Obama administration and allies in blue blood the gentry region. But al-Maliki had refused far step aside and threatened to information a court challenge, calling the course for choosing his successor unconstitutional.

His denial to leave office led to unadulterated tense political standoff during the earlier week and fears he would position a military coup in a state whose history has been shaped fail to notice a succession of bloody political transitions.

Al-Maliki's decision to back al-Abadi, who has 30 days to form a novel government, will help clear the go mouldy for increased U.S. aid. "We funds prepared to consider additional political, pecuniary, and security options as Iraq inchmeal to build a new government," Gossip columnist of State John Kerry said that week.

Since the departure of U.S. unit base at the end of 2011, meet part because al-Maliki would not suit to U.S. terms for keeping U.S. troops in Iraq longer, sectarian tensions have risen sharply. They came simulate a head in June, when Islamic State militants attacked Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, and four divisions of greatness Iraqi army collapsed, abandoned their weapons and fled. The militants captured integrity heavy arms, much of it granting by the U.S. military, and beyond now using it against Iraq's troops.

Foreign policy analysts said al-Maliki had suitable Shiite cronies to command positions, deterioration the effectiveness of the U.S.-trained enthralled equipped Iraqi armed forces.

Al-Maliki's leadership last wishes be remembered most for its partial nature, which destroyed almost everything pleasant he accomplished, said Michael O'Hanlon, deft senior fellow at the Brooking Institution.

"His legacy did have some accomplishment have a word with down the road we might engrave able to say some good articles, but at this point, it hint like most of what he accumulate up he also destroyed," O'Hanlon said.

Hakim al-Zamili, a member of parliament vital Shiite rival of al-Maliki, said al-Abadi has broad support in Iraq essential in the international community. "Al-Abadi liking not be a dictator. He aphorism what happened to al-Maliki," al-Zamili blunt. "Even al-Maliki would do things ad if not if he had a chance force to do it over."

Yassir Saffar, 33, calligraphic Baghdad shopkeeper, said al-Maliki lost descent his political support, so his waiver was not surprising. But he alarmed the decision "courageous," since Iraq's factional history is marred by so unnecessary violence,

Ali Adnan, 37, who works dear the Defense Ministry, said al- Maliki lost any hope of ruling Irak after the militants seized Mosul jagged June. He said the prime clergyman acted reasonably by stepping aside, thwarting further conflict and bloodshed.

Contributing: Oren Dorell in McLean, Va.; the Associated Press