Iraq’s embattled prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has agreed to step aside.<br /><br />It comes after enormous pressure at home and abroad to relinquish control.<br /><br />In a televised speech he dropped his bid for a third term in favour of his successor, Haider al-Abadi, saying it was ‘to protect the interests of our country’.<br /><br />Abadi is seen as a less divisive figure who has a chance of uniting Iraqis against the insurgents of Islamic State who have taken control of large swathes of the north of the country.<br /><br />The move ends a political crisis which had raised fears of a coup after Maliki refused to accept Abadi’s nomination to form a government last week, deploying extra security forces around Baghdad.<br /><br />According to the constitution Abadi has 30 days to form a government during which time Maliki remains the caretaker leader.
