AFP
Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi on Tuesday backed the nomination of new Iraqi premier Haidar al-Abadi, joining an international chorus of approval for the sidelining of outgoing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
Arabi "welcomed Iraqi President Fuad Masum's tasking of Haidar al-Abadi to form a new government," a statement said.

Nomination is 'happy news': Saudi Arabia

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal on Tuesday said the nomination of Haidar al-Abadi as the new prime minister of Iraq to replace divisive incumbent Nuri al-Maliki is "happy news".
Sunni Saudi Arabia had strained ties with Shiite Maliki, whom it accused of creating conditions for a jihadist-led offensive by marginalising Iraq's Sunni Arab minority.
"This is the happy news I heard lately," the veteran diplomat said during a news conference in the western Saudi city of Jeddah, when asked to comment on Abadi's nomination.

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