Al-Maliki drops lawsuit against president, steps down as Iraqi PM

Outgoing Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki said that he would be dropping a lawsuit he had filed to the constitutional court against President Fuad Massoum, who made the decision to replace Al-Maliki with Haidar Al-Abadi.
In a speech on the decision televised on state TV, he said that "defending what is right does not mean clinging to authority - I will not resort to the federal court and I will not be a cause for the bloodshed of a single person.
"I announce before you in order to ease the political process the withdrawal of my position in favour of my brother Dr. Haidar Al-Abadi." On the decision to replace him, he said that he had been the victim of an "unjust" attack, adding that he was not aiming for a position and that his choice to step down was "for the unity of Iraq" and "in protection of the greater interests of the nation." He said that he had exhausted all means necessary to ensure a third term in office, emphasising that his State of Law Coalition has a majority of seats in the parliament and underlining his rejection of any positions in the upcoming government.
"In respect of the confidence bestowed upon me by the people, I have used all peaceful means to show that Iraq is a model in the region," adding that he had "ruled out the use of force" in clinging to power so "Iraq does not return to dictatorship." Al-Maliki's decision to step down came after his immediate refusal following the announcement on Monday coupled with the lawsuit filed at the constitutional court.
The succession of Haidar Al-Abadi was backed by local senior figures as well as regionally and internationally, including Iran and the US.