Al-Wataniya Coalition leader Ayad Allawi in an interview with Asharq al-Awsat made remarks on the situation in Iraq after Maliki’s ousting.
“Maliki left a very troubling legacy for the country. In these 8 years problems have been created that I could never think of in my worst nightmares… the Iraqi people from February 2011 in Baghdad and other provinces legally rose in protests. Their demonstrations expanded to a widespread movement, which of course was neglected along with the people’s requests. Maliki described the demonstrators as ‘ISIS’. They are not ‘ISIS’. They are a popular movement consisting of tribes and civil forces. We hope al-Abadi takes advantage of this historic opportunity he has obtained and also the international support Iraq is enjoying, and he must make efforts to guarantee Iraq’s unity and saving it from crises, and let go of his position in the Dawa Part and be a leader of the Iraqi government, not a representative of the Dawa Party… al-Abadi must explain his ideas for what must be in Iraq… what is the way to respond to the protesters in the social movement? Will they be attacked? Will the prisoners be released, including 5,000 women?” he asked.