Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki refused to step down, shortly after President Fuad Masum nominated Haidar al-Abadi for premiership.

Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki refused to step down, shortly after President Fuad Masum nominated Haidar al-Abadi for premiership.

"The country is in your hands," Masum told Abadi after accepting his nomination by parliament's Shiite bloc, in a move immediately welcomed by the United States.    

Abadi, long considered a close Maliki ally, has 30 days to form a government, amid hopes that a broad-based cabinet could serve as a foundation for healing Iraq's deep sectarian divides.

Maliki, however, appeared determined to resist replacement.
In a televised speech, Maliki said the president’s decision to name a replacement for him was a “dangerous violation” of the constitution and, flanked by political allies, he vowed “we will fix the mistake.”

He said he will take legal action against president for failing to meet deadline for introducing PM candidates.

"I will submit today an official complaint to the federal court against the president of the Republic for committing a clear constitutional violation for the sake of political calculations.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations has also urged all Iraqi political parties to work towards the formation of a new government that would be able to confront the threat from the Takfiri armed group ISIL.