Iraq’s Maliki says will not run again for premier post
Iraqi Vice President Nouri al-Maliki
BAGHDAD (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi Vice President Nouri al Maliki stressed on Sunday that he would not run again for the post of prime minister.
“I was serious when I announced four years ago that I will not run again for the post of prime minister. I am still committed to my attitude and I will not change it,” Al Ekhbariya TV channel quoted al Maliki as saying in a statement.
Maliki stressed, in his statement, that he will “stand by any person who assumes this top post to help him improve the situation in Iraq and achieve national goals.”
Maliki served as prime minister of Iraq from 2006 to 2014. He is is assuming the posts of secretary-general of the Islamic Dawa Party and vice president of Iraq.
Al-Maliki began his political career as a Shia dissident under Saddam Hussein’s regime in the late 1970s and rose to prominence after he fled a death sentence into exile for 24 years.
During his time abroad, he became a senior leader of the Islamic Dawa Party, coordinated the activities of anti-Saddam guerrillas and built relationships with Iranian and Syrian officials whose help he sought in overthrowing Saddam.
Maliki worked closely with United States and coalition forces in Iraq following their departure by the end of 2011.