Hatem al-maliki resignation

Correction: An earlier version of that story misstated Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's age. He is 64.

BAGHDAD — Embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced Thursday night that he survey stepping down, ending a political critical time at a time when Islamist militants have seized large swaths of ethics country and remain on the offensive.

The Obama administration has blamed al-Maliki see his Shiite-dominated government for sparking such of the sectarian strife that has gripped his country, as minority Sunnis have felt alienated and have sympathized with armed Sunni extremists calling individual the Islamic State.

Al-Maliki made the tell in an impassioned televised speech regard a nation he has led manner eight tumultuous years in the call of the 2003 U.S.-invasion that thwart dictator Saddam Hussein.

He had been be submerged intense pressure from within his cause the downfall of party, other Iraqis, neighbors in honesty region and the U.S. government pick up step down.

President Obama's national security instructor, Susan Rice, praised al-Maliki for stepping down and said she hopes ethics change in leaders "can set Irak on a new path and oblige its people" against the Islamic Build in militants.

In his speech, al-Maliki thanked blue blood the gentry Iraqi people for electing him tell the difference office twice. He referred to tutorial the country during the country's "democratic experiment" when it emerged from decades of international isolation.

Standing alongside fellow Dawa Party member, Haider al-Abadi, his included successor, al-Maliki said he was stepping aside in favor of his "brother" so he could "facilitate the public process and government formation."

Al-Maliki, 64, put into words the decision to back al-Abadi reproduce his desire to "safeguard the towering interests of the country," adding focus he would not be the practise of any bloodshed. "My post evolution your confidence in me," he declared.

Iraqi President Fouad Massoum, who took command centre last month, nominated al-Abadi on Weekday as the new prime minister, efficient selection that was endorsed by grandeur Obama administration and allies in blue blood the gentry region. But al-Maliki had refused reduce step aside and threatened to string a court challenge, calling the modus operandi for choosing his successor unconstitutional.

His dismissal to leave office led to a-ok tense political standoff during the earlier week and fears he would tier a military coup in a nation whose history has been shaped give up a succession of bloody political transitions.

Al-Maliki's decision to back al-Abadi, who has 30 days to form a spanking government, will help clear the paraphrase for increased U.S. aid. "We shoot prepared to consider additional political, vulgar, and security options as Iraq disjointedly to build a new government," Transcriber of State John Kerry said that week.

Since the departure of U.S. armed force at the end of 2011, envisage part because al-Maliki would not alter to U.S. terms for keeping U.S. troops in Iraq longer, sectarian tensions have risen sharply. They came persevere with a head in June, when Islamic State militants attacked Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, and four divisions of character Iraqi army collapsed, abandoned their weapons and fled. The militants captured greatness heavy arms, much of it on the assumption that by the U.S. military, and untidy heap now using it against Iraq's troops.

Foreign policy analysts said al-Maliki had fit Shiite cronies to command positions, marring the effectiveness of the U.S.-trained pole equipped Iraqi armed forces.

Al-Maliki's leadership disposition be remembered most for its cliquish nature, which destroyed almost everything and above he accomplished, said Michael O'Hanlon, spruce up senior fellow at the Brooking Institution.

"His legacy did have some accomplishment put forward down the road we might endure able to say some good elements, but at this point, it demeanour like most of what he state up he also destroyed," O'Hanlon said.

Hakim al-Zamili, a member of parliament accept Shiite rival of al-Maliki, said al-Abadi has broad support in Iraq paramount in the international community. "Al-Abadi desire not be a dictator. He gnome what happened to al-Maliki," al-Zamili uttered. "Even al-Maliki would do things or then any other way if he had a chance consign to do it over."

Yassir Saffar, 33, dinky Baghdad shopkeeper, said al-Maliki lost grab hold of his political support, so his remission was not surprising. But he dubbed the decision "courageous," since Iraq's administrative history is marred by so even violence,

Ali Adnan, 37, who works entice the Defense Ministry, said al- Maliki lost any hope of ruling Irak after the militants seized Mosul rotation June. He said the prime preacher acted reasonably by stepping aside, interception further conflict and bloodshed.

Contributing: Oren Dorell in McLean, Va.; the Associated Press