BAGHDAD - The head of Iraq's National Shiite Alliance says it has chosen an alternate nominee for prime minister instead of incumbent Nouri al-Maliki.
Ibrahim al-Jaafari said Monday in a statement that the alliance of Shiite political parties has agreed to nominate Haider al-Ibadi to replace al-Maliki and to form a new government to unify the country against the growing threat of radical militants.
Al-Maliki has insisted that his party, State of Law, which is part of the alliance, should select the nominee.
Al-Maliki delivered a surprise speech in the early hours of the morning accused the country's new President Fouad Massoum of blocking his reappointment as prime minister.