Iraqi president says ready to resign amid political row

On Thursday, Iraqi President Barham Salih expressed his desire to resign after failing to appoint nominee Asad al-Eidani as Prime Minister-designate, official Iraqi television said, XinhuaNet said.

The state-run Iraqiya channel said in a letter sent to Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, Salih opposed al-Eidani's candidacy by the Building Coalition, created by some victorious blocs following the 2018 parliamentary elections.

Salih said his position on the new appointment "may be considered a violation of the constitutional code" in the statement, released by some local media, so he was ready to resign from the president's office.

Salih also said that the protesters did not accept the appointment of al-Eidani.

Democratic and legislative initiatives must always represent the will of the nation, fulfill social security and peace criteria, while at the same time providing good governance in accordance with the desires and sacrifices of the people, Salih said in his message.

According to the Iraqi constitution, a candidate for the vacant post should be nominated by the biggest party in parliament to President Barham Salih, who will challenge the freshly named prime minister to form a new cabinet.

Salih's letter came in the middle of a political controversy about who would be named as a new designated prime minister to form an interim government ahead of early parliamentary elections.

Mass protests in areas of Iraq led to Abdul Mahdi and his government's downfall.