Outgoing Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki called on security forces and the military not to be affected by the country's current political crisis and to continue carrying out their role in protecting Iraq.
He told senior military and security personnel, during a meeting on Tuesday, not to interfere in the political circumstances which saw him replaced, but to instead "leave the issue up to the people, politicians and the judiciary." In reference to his claims that he was removed from power unconstitutionally, he underlined "the importance of protecting and committing to the constitution and preventing any breaches to it.
These breaches "may provide a renewed setback to Iraq as dangerous as what happened in Mosul," he added in reference to its occupation by the terrorist group, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Earlier, the UN also urged Iraqi forces not to intervene in the politics of the country.