Iraq's parliament accepted Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's resignation Sunday, but the move is not expected to end nearly two months of violent anti-government protests. Mahdi resigned Friday. President Barham Salih will now ask the largest bloc in parliament to nominate a new prime minister. But this could lead to weeks of deal-making because it is unclear which coalition of parties make up the largest bloc. Mahdi and his government have agreed to stay on in a caretaker role until a new prime minister is approved.Mahdi's resignation is unlikely to satisfy anti-government protesters who have said it is not enough for a new prime minister to take over -- they are demanding changes to the entire political system, which they call corrupt, inept, and does little to help impoverished Iraqis despite the nation’s oil wealth. |