Abdul Mahdi: the Iraqi government will not resign without a “smooth and rapid” alternative
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Tuesday his government would not respond to demonstrators’ demands to resign without a “smooth and swift” alternative.
Abdul-Mahdi’s speech came during a speech at the weekly cabinet meeting broadcast on state television.
“There are legitimate demands for the resignation of the government but this cannot be achieved without a smooth and swift alternative,” said Abdul Mahdi, who has been facing an unprecedented crisis since taking office a year ago.
He warned that “the resignation of the government will leave a vacuum in the country deepens the problems as the caretaker government is constrained by the authorities and can not pass the financial budget and make the required reforms.”
He stressed that he did not cling to power and was ready to leave office immediately if political forces agreed on an alternative.
Abdul-Mahdi noted that the resignation of his government would leave the fate of the country unknown.
Since October 25, Iraq has witnessed a new wave of anti-government protests , the second of its kind after two weeks before.