Iraq's new president has charged the deputy speaker of parliament Haider al-Ibadi with forming a new government in the next 30 days.
Fouad Massoum said on television today that he hoped al-Ibadi would succeed in forming a government that would "protect the Iraqi people."
The president's choice is a very public snubbing of incumbent Prime Minister Nouri el-Maliki who in an angry midnight speech all but demanded he be re-nominated for a third term.
Maliki has deployed his elite security forces in the streets of Baghdad, partially closed two main streets -- popular spots for pro and anti-government rallies -- as hundreds of his supporters took to the streets.
