Iraq Parliament Approves Prime Minister Mahdi’s Resignation

(Bloomberg) -- Iraq's parliament approved the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi after some of the worst violence during two months of anti-government protests.

The parliament's speaker will ask the president to appoint a new prime minister, according to its media department.

Mahdi had last week called on parliament to accept his resignation and move quickly to find a successor, saying the country needs a new leader to end violent protests. Mahdi, who's backed by neighboring power Iran, had offered to quit earlier but then insisted he'd only go once lawmakers agreed on a replacement.

Why Iraqis Are Taking Aim at Their Leaders and Iran's: QuickTake

More than 400 people have died in clashes between security forces and protesters since Oct. 1, according to Iraq's independent High Human Rights Commission. Iraqis, mostly from the Shiite majority population, are protesting against government corruption, poor services, and wide-ranging Iranian political influence, calling for an overhaul of the ruling class.

To contact the reporter on this story: Shaji Mathew in Dubai at shajimathew@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Shaji Mathew at shajimathew@bloomberg.net

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