maliki steps down
 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world...s_to_step.html

Maliki steps down as prime minister in favor of Abadi."
Maliki's reversal comes only days after he sparked fears of a devastating, destabilizing coup following Iraqi President Fouad Massoum's decision to tap Haider al-Abadi to form the new government. Maliki, who had long made it clear that he expected to serve a third term, reacted angrily to the snub, calling Massoum's decision a violation of the constitution and deploying a number of elite security forces in the Green Zone in a clear display of power. He'd later walk back his implied military threat, but had nonetheless promised a legal challenge to Massoum's decision to effectively end his reign as prime minister.