Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki Says He Will Not Seek 3rd Term

[Leithan]

Source: Huffington Post

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will not run for a third term in 2014, an adviser said Saturday, limiting himself in the name of democracy while keeping a wary eye on the popular anger at governments across the Middle East.

Al-Maliki, a Shiite, narrowly held onto a second four-year term despite falling short in national elections last year. His successor will be the first to lead without U.S. military help since the fall of Saddam Hussein after American troops fully withdraw as planned by the end of this year.

The prime minister made no public statements on Saturday, but his decision was broadcast on state TV and confirmed by his media adviser, Ali al-Moussawi.

Al-Moussawi said al-Maliki also wants to change the Iraqi constitution before he leaves office to limit all future prime ministers to two terms. "Eight years is enough for him, in order to not convert to a dictatorship," al-Moussawi told The Associated Press, as state TV announced al-Maliki's decision. "This is the principle and the concept of democracy."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/05/eye-on-unrest-iraqi-pm-sa_n_819118.html

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An' I'm p-proud to be an Uhmericun.....:cry:

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Ahmed Chalabi waits in the wings...

...swell.:(

[Leithan]

2. .....with Donnie Rumsfeld standing by with his checkbook

:puke:

[Joanne98]

3. Iraq PM won't seek third term

Source: CNN

Baghdad (CNN) -- Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will not run for a third term when his current one expires in 2014, the nation's state television reported Sunday.

The report comes two days after he said he would cut his salary in half amid growing unrest about poor public services and water shortages.

Protesters around Iraq have said recent popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia inspired their weeklong demonstrations for improvements in government services and their quality of life.

Thousands have rallied across the country in the past week, railing against rampant poverty, a 45% national unemployment rate and shortages of food, electricity and water, including several hundred in three different parts of Baghdad on Friday.



Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/06/iraq.politics/