FT editor on challenges for Iraqi PM

Synopsis

Iraq's prime minister Nuri al-Maliki faces increasing pressure to step down as a Coalition of critics, including the president, accuses him of exacerbating sectarian divisions and paving the way for the rise of ISIS. Despite being labeled a 'busted flush' politically, Maliki clings to power, reportedly ordering his specialist forces to surround the Green Zone and maintain a presence around the presidential palace. The political landscape in Iraq remains unstable, with the country effectively divided into regions, including the autonomous Kurdistan in the north and the ISIS-overrun Anbar province. The situation is further complicated by Maliki's support within the armed forces, which remains a critical factor in the ongoing power struggle, even as a new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, is appointed.