Iraqi Prime Minister To Resign After Series Of Protests

The Prime Minister of Iraq, Adel Abdul Mahdi, have said he would resign from office following series of anti-government protests.

In a statement issued on Friday, he said he would tender his resignation to parliament to allow lawmakers to constitute a new government.

Mahdi’s decision may also not be unconnected to a call for leadership change on Friday by Iraq’s top Shi’ite Muslim cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

On national television, the cleric had asked the parliament on Friday to “reconsider its options.”, adding that the unrest happening under the current leadership was unbearable.

“In response to this call, and in order to facilitate it as quickly as possible, I will present to parliament a demand to accept my resignation from the leadership of the current government,” the prime minister said.

The statement did not disclose when he would resign, and Parliament would be convening on Sunday.

Reuters said the announcement came after weeks of anti-government unrest in which security forces have allegedly killed around 400 mostly peaceful demonstrators and the country has careered towards a serious escalation of violence.