Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has agreed to step aside under pressure from home and abroad, ending the country's recent political deadlock that has plunged it into uncertainty as it fights a Sunni militant insurgency.
"Today I declare in front of you that in order to facilitate the political process and to form a new government, I am relinquishing my candidacy for the sake of my fellow Mr Haider al-Abadi, in order to save the high interest of the country. "
The Iraq President has nominated Haider al-Abadi, a deputy speaker of parliament, to form a new government.
Al-Maliki for days has insisted on staying in his position, calling Abadi's nomination a violation of the constitution and threatening legal action against the president.
Al-Maliki had grown increasingly isolated as he was deserted not only by his Shiite allies but also by Iran, the United States, and the U.N. backed al-Abadi.
His opponents have accused him of monopolizing power and pursuing a fiercely pro-Shiite agenda that has alienated the Sunni minority.
Meantime, U.S. President Barack Obama says the U.S. has broken the siege by Islamic militants on Sinjar Mountain, but airstrikes will continue.
"So the bottom line is that the situation on the mountain has greatly improved and Americans should be very proud of our efforts."
This comes after tens of thousands of the members of the Yazidi sect fled the so-called Islamic State's advance, taking refuge in the remote mountains.
The United Nations has announced its highest level of emergency for the humanitarian crisis in Iraq as it warns the scope of the emergency was beyond its local capabilities.
