In an interview with the Assabah al-Jadid daily, Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi called for Maliki to step down from his post as Iraqi premier.
“Practically, a coupe d’état has truly taken place in Iraq,” he said. “Isn’t depriving someone who has been victorious in the elections from their right to establish government accountable to a coup d’état against the constitution?”
“I am only willing to turn myself in to the Iraqi judiciary if Nouri Maliki announces his resignation,” al-Hashemi added, saying “and this is the only way to lift the pressure enforced on the judiciary.” He went on to explain all allegations and confessions against him are fabricated.