Allawi demands Iraqi PM's resignation

Former Iraqi Prime Minister and head of the Iraqi List parliamentary bloc, Iyad Allawi has called on current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to resign, describing the political process in Iraq as having reached a "dead end." Allawi said that Maliki's government had failed to respond to his and other leaders’ calls to abide by the constitution and take responsibility for the safety of Iraqis. He added that the government has managed to distance itself from accountability, and continued in its rejection of political consensus and principles of national partnership, which was signed by all parties. "Maliki's government delayed completion of the government formation and the implementation of political balance, mainly in military and security institutions," Allawi continued. Armed militant groups have carried out dozens of attacks against Iraqi civilians and government officials since the beginning of the year. In July so far, about 525 people have been killed, taking the average daily number of victims of violence in Iraq to about 25 people, according to unofficial statistics. This is the highest number of deaths in a short period of time since the overthrow of the previous Iraqi regime in 2003. Allawi said that the political process in Iraq had reached a dead end, after the government aborted all sincere attempts to return to its constitutional and national consensus tracks, adding that the security situation was worrying. "We have a national and moral responsibility towards our people, to urge the prime minister to resign immediately and call the National Alliance to choose another premier that will abide by the constitution, political consensus and national partnership," Allawi said. The Iraqi politician also called on the House of Representatives to work to support this proposal and to contribute to the supervision of free and fair elections, leading Iraq to peace, security and stability, through an elected government that's capable of abiding by the constitution.