Iraq's President Fouad Masoum asked Haidar al-Abadi to try to form a new cabinet in a bid to end the political deadlock that has hobbled the country's efforts to roll back an Islamist insurgency.
The Shia National Alliance approached Abadi to replace embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqiya television said, citing a statement from the bloc's chief, Ibrahim al-Jaafari. Earlier, Maliki said he would challenge Masoum in court and then deployed troops overnight on the streets of Baghdad.
Masoum tapped Abadi hours after US Secretary of State John Kerry pulled support from Maliki, warning him not to hinder the political process while the country is under threat from the Islamic State's advances across the north. US President Barack Obama has tied expanded US military strikes against the Al Qaida breakaway group to formation of a more inclusive government that didn't marginalise Sunnis and other minorities.
Amid the tensions in Baghdad ahead of expected remarks by Maliki later on Monday, US Vice-President Joe Biden called Masoum to offer him "full support" and to discuss formation of the new government, according to a White House statement. Biden also discussed Obama's "desire to boost coordination with a new Iraqi government and Iraqi Security Forces to roll back gains by the Islamic State," according to the statement.
Abadi, who was deputy speaker of parliament, called after his appointment for cooperation to fight the Islamic State, Al Arabiya television said.
The militant Sunni group has captured vast swaths of northern Iraq, including key installations such as dams, military outposts and the region's largest city Mosul, in its declared campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate.
Maliki, who has defied efforts by lawmakers to pressure him to drop his bid for a third term after inconclusive parliamentary elections in April, will hold a news conference later today on Iraqiya, the news service said. Kerry said Maliki wasn't even among the three candidates that his fellow Shiites wanted as the next prime minister.
The U.S. military conducted additional airstrikes against Islamic State targets near the Kurdish city of Erbil, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement today. Strikes yesterday destroyed part of an Islamic State vehicle convoy moving to attack forces defending Erbil, it said.
Arming Kurds
Kurdish forces on Sunday were able to retake the towns of Makhmour and Gwer, south of Erbil, where militants retreated after U.S. airstrikes, according to the Kurdish news agency Rudaw, citing officials.
A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S., Turkey, Jordan, France, Britain and Gulf states have been discussing how to arm the Kurds and that some weapons already have been delivered. He wouldn't give further details and declined to discuss the U.S. role.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the Defense Department is providing arms to the Kurds only through the Iraqi government. He declined to say whether other U.S. agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency, are providing direct assistance.
Sophisticated Arms
Kurdish forces were "surprised" by the sophistication of arms used by Islamic State, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in interview with France2 television broadcast yesterday from Erbil.
"One way or another, we have to see about how to deliver weapons in a secure way so that they can defend themselves and counter-attack," Fabius said. "We will see in the days ahead, in liaison with other Europeans."
European ambassadors to the European Union will meet tomorrow to discuss Iraq. France and Britain delivered humanitarian aid over the weekend, while for the moment saying they won't join military action.
The Shia National Alliance approached Abadi to replace embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqiya television said, citing a statement from the bloc's chief, Ibrahim al-Jaafari. Earlier, Maliki said he would challenge Masoum in court and then deployed troops overnight on the streets of Baghdad.
Masoum tapped Abadi hours after US Secretary of State John Kerry pulled support from Maliki, warning him not to hinder the political process while the country is under threat from the Islamic State's advances across the north. US President Barack Obama has tied expanded US military strikes against the Al Qaida breakaway group to formation of a more inclusive government that didn't marginalise Sunnis and other minorities.
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"We stand absolutely, squarely behind President" Masoum, Kerry told reporters in Sydney. "He has the responsibility for upholding the constitution of Iraq, he is the elected president. At this moment Iraq has clearly made a statement that they are looking for change."
Amid the tensions in Baghdad ahead of expected remarks by Maliki later on Monday, US Vice-President Joe Biden called Masoum to offer him "full support" and to discuss formation of the new government, according to a White House statement. Biden also discussed Obama's "desire to boost coordination with a new Iraqi government and Iraqi Security Forces to roll back gains by the Islamic State," according to the statement.
Abadi, who was deputy speaker of parliament, called after his appointment for cooperation to fight the Islamic State, Al Arabiya television said.
The militant Sunni group has captured vast swaths of northern Iraq, including key installations such as dams, military outposts and the region's largest city Mosul, in its declared campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate.
Maliki, who has defied efforts by lawmakers to pressure him to drop his bid for a third term after inconclusive parliamentary elections in April, will hold a news conference later today on Iraqiya, the news service said. Kerry said Maliki wasn't even among the three candidates that his fellow Shiites wanted as the next prime minister.
The U.S. military conducted additional airstrikes against Islamic State targets near the Kurdish city of Erbil, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement today. Strikes yesterday destroyed part of an Islamic State vehicle convoy moving to attack forces defending Erbil, it said.
Arming Kurds
Kurdish forces on Sunday were able to retake the towns of Makhmour and Gwer, south of Erbil, where militants retreated after U.S. airstrikes, according to the Kurdish news agency Rudaw, citing officials.
A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S., Turkey, Jordan, France, Britain and Gulf states have been discussing how to arm the Kurds and that some weapons already have been delivered. He wouldn't give further details and declined to discuss the U.S. role.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the Defense Department is providing arms to the Kurds only through the Iraqi government. He declined to say whether other U.S. agencies, such as the Central Intelligence Agency, are providing direct assistance.
Sophisticated Arms
Kurdish forces were "surprised" by the sophistication of arms used by Islamic State, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in interview with France2 television broadcast yesterday from Erbil.
"One way or another, we have to see about how to deliver weapons in a secure way so that they can defend themselves and counter-attack," Fabius said. "We will see in the days ahead, in liaison with other Europeans."
European ambassadors to the European Union will meet tomorrow to discuss Iraq. France and Britain delivered humanitarian aid over the weekend, while for the moment saying they won't join military action.