Nouri Al-Maliki Objects To Abadi's Appointment, Asks To Wait For Court Ruling

Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki said that a move by President Fouad Massoum to appoint Haider al-Abadi as the country's next prime minister is of “no value” and that it is a violation of the Iraqi constitution.

Maliki said in a televised address on Wednesday that he has filed an objection to Abadi’s appointment in Iraq’s federal court, and called on the nation to wait for a ruling before considering a new prime minister. Maliki’s remarks come as the country is facing a political crisis with Massoum declaring Abadi as the new leader despite Maliki's move to file a case against the new president for violating constitutional laws. Maliki has refused to step down even as Abadi is working on forming a new government.

“We resorted to the federal court to prevent a violation of the constitution and to halt conspiracies,” Maliki said in a televised address on Wednesday, according to Al-Jazeera, adding: “The high national interest is tied to the stability of the constitution and the judicial authorities."

He also said, according to Agence France-Presse: “I confirm that the government will continue and there will not be a replacement for it without a decision from the federal court."

Iraq is also facing intense violence in the north as Islamic militants from the Sunni extremist group Islamic State have taken control of large parts of the country's north and west.

Earlier in the week, the U.S. had warned the divisive Maliki, who has been criticized for favoring the Shia sect to which he belongs, to accept the new political order. The U.S., on Tuesday, approved sending 130 military advisers, after having authorized limited airstrikes last Friday to help Kurdish and government forces beat back the militants' advance.

On Tuesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a checkpoint that led to Abadi’s house in Baghdad, although no casualties were reported, according to Al-Jazeera.