BAGHDAD - Iraq’s president refused Thursday to designate the Iran-backed parliamentary bloc’s nominee for prime minister after he was rejected by anti-government protesters, saying he was prepared to submit his resignation to Parliament. Shortly after he issued his statement Thursday, Saleh left Baghdad, headed to his hometown in the northern city of Sulaimaniyah. He added that the president travelled to Sulaimaniyah in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region to get away from the pressures being exerted on him. Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi submitted his resignation late last month under mounting pressure from the protesters calling for his ouster. According to Iraq’s constitution, the largest bloc in parliament is required to nominate the new prime minister, who then has to be designated by the president.

Source: thestar December 26, 2019 14:03 UTC