Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has sacked a senior cabinet official who was a close aide to his predecessor and rival Nuri al-Maliki.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has sacked a senior cabinet official who was a close aide to his predecessor and rival Nuri al-Maliki, the premier's office said in a statement Wednesday.
Abadi issued an "order to relieve the secretary general of the cabinet and his two deputies from their positions", the statement said, referring to Mohammad Khalaf Ahmed, who headed Maliki's personal office during his premiership.
The statement did not provide a reason for the dismissals, but the announcement comes during a major reform drive by Abadi aimed at curbing rampant corruption and streamlining the government.
In televised remarks a day after parliament signed off on his proposed measures, Abadi said that implementing reforms to curb graft and streamline the government "will not be easy," and corrupt people will fight to hold back change.
This was Abadi's first effort to manage expectations for the reform program he rolled out Sunday in response to widespread public anger over corruption and poor services.
"The process will not be easy; it will be painful. The corrupt will not sit by without lifting a finger."
Those who have "interests and privileges will defend their privileges and interests, and some of them will even fight for them," he said.
"They will try to sabotage each step we take".
The Iraqi premier also said that, while some want him to make "unrealistic demands," he "will not demand anything that cannot be implemented."
The anti-corruption drive will be carried out without favor, including within his party, Abadi said.
"If there is a corrupt person in my party, I am against them, and if there is a good person in the party of my enemy, I am with him," he said.
Khalaf's responsibilities included providing advice and support to the premier, administrative services to the cabinet and managing state properties,according to a description of the post on a government website.
