Iraq Civil War News Updates -- August 15, 2014

Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Steps Down -- Wall Street Journal

Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki relinquished power on Thursday, ending eight years of tumultuous rule and opening a new political chapter that U.S. officials hope will move Iraq toward a more united front against marauding jihadists.

The surprise move defuses a potential crisis after Mr. Maliki had disputed in court the naming of another politician to the premiership and ominously deployed extra security forces across Baghdad.

Mr. Maliki’s departure fulfills an Obama administration goal of a peaceful and democratic political transition, the first in Iraq’s modern history, and opens the way for more U.S. military aid to Iraq.

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Iraq Civil War News Updates -- August 15, 2014

Iraq Leader-in-Waiting Calls for Unity Against Insurgents -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Iraq's new PM urges country to unite -- Al Jazeera
Iraq's new premier al-Abadi reaches out to alienated Sunnis -- Deutsche Welle
Iraq's new prime minister-designate vows to fight corruption, terrorism -- FOX News
Who's Haider al-Abadi, the man who will lead Iraq? -- CNN

Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki accepts loss in political struggle, backs Haidar al-Abadi as new PM -- The Australian/AFP
Iraq's Maliki finally steps aside, paving way for new government -- Reuters
Nuri al-Maliki ends bid to continue as Iraq's prime minister -- CNN
Iraqi prime minister finally steps down to 'safeguard his country' after tense stand-off that threatened violent power struggle in Baghdad -- Daily Mail

Exclusive: Sunni leaders open to joining Iraq government if conditions met -- Reuters
Iraqi Sunnis open to backing new PM -- Al Jazeera
Iraq's top Shiite cleric backs new prime minister and urges unity -- Washington Post
Senior UN officials commend decision of Iraq’s al-Maliki to back his successor -- UN News Centre
Obama backs new Iraqi PM as Maliki stands aside to ‘safeguard’ Iraq -- Euronews

US to Arm Kurdish Peshmerga Amid ISIS Offensive -- RIA Novosti
UK 'prepared' to supply arms to Kurdish forces -- RT
Britain ready to supply Kurds with arms -- Reuters
Britain in emergency talks with EU foreign ministers to ramp up arms shipments to the Kurds to fight 'terrible threat' of ISIS in Iraq -- Daily Mail

Iraq crisis: Arming Kurds on EU agenda in Brussels -- BBC

Iraqi army, militants clash west of Baghdad -- AP
Iraq's Islamic fighters profit from oil sales: U.S. officials -- Reuters
More US military support unlikely to break militant hold on Iraq -- John Vandiver and Nancy Montgomery, Stars and Stripes