Maliki calls on Iraqi security forces not to intervene in political crisis

Iraq’s outgoing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered security forces not to intervene in the political crisis over who will form the next government.

“I want you to stay away from the political crisis and to carry out your security duties to protect the country. Do not intervene and let the people, politicians and the judiciary to deal with the crisis,” Maliki said during his meeting with a group of senior officers from the army, police and other security forces in Baghdad.

The comments came amid growing fears that some security forces loyal to Maliki as the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces have been deployed in Baghdad.

On Monday, Iraqi President Fuad Masoum accepted the nomination of Haider al-Abadi as prime minister-designate, a significant milestone for the country’s troubled political process, but the nomination angered incumbent Maliki who slammed the choice as a ” violation of the constitution” and threatened to sue his political opponents.