Nuri al-Maliki dropped his bid to remain Iraq’s prime minister and announced backing the PM designate Haidar al-Abadi to form the new Iraqi government.

Nuri al-Maliki dropped his bid to remain Iraq's prime minister and announced backing the PM designate Haidar al-Abadi  to form the new Iraqi government.

"I announce before you today the withdrawal of my candidacy in favor of the brother Doctor Haidar al-Abadi," Maliki said.

Maliki also announced withdrawing the complaint against the president Fuad Masum.

Maliki asserted that he rejects to be the cause of shedding the Iraqis' blood.

Nuri al-Maliki considered that ISIL has a terrorist plot which threatens both Iraq and Syria.

President Fuad Masum on Monday tasked Haidar al-Abadi, a member of Dawa party, with forming a new government.