Ki-moon welcomes Maliki’s decision to support Ebadi

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday commended the decision of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to give up his candidature and support his rival Haider al-Abadi as nominee to succeed him.

“The secretary-general commends the decision of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to withdraw his candidature and his pledge to support Mr. Haider al-Abadi as nominee to succeed him,” said a statement issued here by Ban’s spokesman.

“This will allow the crucial process to form a new government to proceed swiftly and within the time frame provided for in the Constitution,” the statement said.

Al-Maliki withdrew his nomination for a third term in office, and backed the nomination of al-Abadi for the post of prime minister, Maliki said Thursday. /End/