Overview
- Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stepped aside after talks with Nouri al-Maliki, according to two Iraqi officials cited by AP.
- Al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition won 46 of 329 seats in November, the largest single bloc but short of a majority.
- His coalition publicly endorsed al-Maliki’s bid, with spokesperson Firas Al Muslimawi calling it an “Iraq First” choice.
- Judge Faiq Zidan said there is no need for weapons outside the state and outlined legal backing for exclusive state control of arms.
- Powerful factions including Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq rejected disarmament talks, and the judiciary has pressed for enforcing constitutional timelines to form state institutions.