Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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Fouad Masoum, Iraq’s newly elected president, speaks during a news conference in Baghdad, July 24, 2014. (REUTERS/Ahmed Saad)

Iraq wants strong, lasting relationship with Saudi Arabia, says president

by Hamza Mustafa | Aug 17, 2014 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraq wants a strong and durable relationship with Saudi Arabia, Iraqi President Fuad Masoum told Asharq Al-Awsat, in his first major press interview since becoming Iraq’s head of state on July 24. Masoum said he appreciated the regional and...

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Haider Al-Abadi (L), and Iraq’s parliament speaker, Salim Al-Jabouri, attend a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq on July 15, 2014. (Reuters/Ahmed Saad)

Iraqi PM-designate says government formation talks underway

by Hamza Mustafa | Aug 14, 2014 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Al-Awsat—Iraqi prime minister-designate Haider Al-Abadi has called on the country’s political blocs to begin talks on distributing ministerial portfolios in the new Iraqi government. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Abadi said talks about the...

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In this July 15, 2014 file photo, Shi’ite lawmaker and Deputy Parliament Speaker Haider al-Abadi speaks to the media after an Iraqi parliament session in Baghdad. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Haider Al-Abadi: From Electrical Engineer to PM-Designate

by Hamza Mustafa | Aug 13, 2014 | Profiles

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider Al-Abadi, the man tasked with forming the country’s next government and resolving a longstanding political crisis that has very real security implications on Iraq, appears to have come out of nowhere....

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Outgoing Iraqi PM Nuri Al-Maliki meeting with senior military and police officers (Handout, Iraqi PM’s office)

International leaders congratulate Abadi as Maliki stands firm

by Hamza Mustafa | Aug 13, 2014 | Middle East

Baghdad and Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, congratulated Iraq’s new leaders, President Fuad Masoum, Prime Minister-designate Haider Al-Abadi and Speaker of Parliament Salim Al-Jabouri, on Tuesday. In his...

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File photo showing Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki speaking during a news conference in Baghdad. (Reuters)

Maliki was politically outmaneuvered, former ally says

by Hamza Mustafa | Aug 12, 2014 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki was politically outmaneuvered after Iraqi President Fuad Masoum took the decision to task Haider Al-Abadi—a member of Maliki’s own Islamic Da’wa Party and a close aide—to form the next government, a...