Iraq’s prime minister has announced that he is resigning in the wake of deadly anti-government protests.
Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s announcement was broadcast on state television, just over a year after he took office.
It comes a day after more than 40 protesters were killed by Iraqi security forces, and hours after the country’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called for a change in leadership.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel-Mahdi
In a statement, Mr Abdul-Mahdi said: “In response to this call [from the Shiite cleric], and in order to facilitate it as quickly as possible, I will present to parliament a demand (to accept) my resignation from the leadership of the current government.”
