Iraqi Vice-President Abdul-Mahdi resigns to reduce size of government

[News_Editor]

Iraqi Vice-President Abdul-Mahdi resigns to reduce size of government

2011-05-31 00:23:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAGHDAD (BNO NEWS) -- Iraqi Vice-President Adel Abdul-Mahdi on Monday presented his resignation in order to reduce the size of the government, just over two weeks after his appointment, the Aswat al-Iraq news agency reported.

"Vice-President Adel Abdul-Mahdi has presented his resignation officially to President Jalal Talabani, according to the willingness of the Supreme Islamic Council, because of the mechanism followed in the political process that was noticed by everybody," said Jumaa al-Atwany, a Council leader.

President Talabani has not accepted Abdul-Mahdi's resignation as he is one of his must reliable allies. However, the Abdul-Mahdi decided to step down as there were three Vice-Presidents.

On May 12, the Iraqi Parliament appointed Abdul-Mahdi, Tareq al-Hashimy and Khudhier al-Khuza'e as Vice-Presidents. The majority decision was considered by many observers as a constitutional violation.

In addition, the Parliament held a voting on Monday in regards to the election of the three Vice-Presidents in once consignment. The Supreme Islamic Council and the Religious Authority in Najaf (the Shiite representatives) rejected it.

Abdul-Mahdi, the leader in the Supreme Islamic Council, apologized to President Talabani and added that the post of Vice-President "had become useless due to the delay of its promulgation."

Last Friday, Talabani issued a presidential statement that designated Abdul-Mahdi as the country's first Vice-President following the U.S. military intervention that ended the Saddam Hussein regime.

The Iraqi national partnership government was formed in December 2010, ending a nine-month political stalemate that followed the March elections. The new government is led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

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