Iraq's president issues deadline to choose next PM

Associated Press|
Iraq's president has given rival political blocs a deadline to select a prime minister nearly two months after the outgoing premier resigned under pressure from mass demonstrations, his office said in a statement Wednesday.
Violence continued for a second week in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the popular protests, with security forces using pellet guns to disperse protesters. It was the first time the weapon has been used in the four-month movement in which police have killed demonstrators with live rounds and tear gas canisters.
President Barham Saleh asked parliamentary blocs to select a candidate to replace outgoing premier Adel Abdul-Mahdi by Feb. 1. If they don't, he said, he will select a candidate himself.
"I call on you, as parliamentary blocs concerned with the nomination of the prime minister to resume constructive and serious political dialogue in order to agree on a new candidate," his statement said.
If political blocs are not able to meet the deadline, the statement said, “I see an obligation to exercise my constitutional powers by assigning those whom I find most acceptable to parliament and the people."
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