MESOP INSIDE : US PUSHES FOR NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has refused to step down after the new president, Fouad Massoum, nominated Deputy Speaker of Parliament Haider al-Abadi, a member of Maliki’s Dawa party, as his replacement. Maliki called Abadi’s nomination a violation of the constitution and said, “My nomination is still valid and we will correct this mistake for sure.” U.S. President Barack Obama praised Abadi’s nomination saying it was a “promising step forward” and urged him to form an inclusive cabinet. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that once Iraq starts to build a new government, the United States will consider providing additional military, economic, and political assistance to the country. Abadi has 30 days to form a government. Meanwhile, the Iraqi military is conducting relief efforts in the Sinjar mountains, dropping supplies and carrying-out small scale evacuations, though thousands of members of the minority Yazidi community who fled an Islamic State offensive remain stranded, starving, and dehydrated. Britain has additionally conducted aid drops, though several members of parliament are calling for Britain to join the United States in launching airstrikes against Islamic State militants.