Iraqi vice president resigns in sign of infighting

Iraqi Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi submitted his resignation in protest of creating " unnecessary" top authorities positions right after two weeks of his appointment, a Shiite religious leader said on Monday.

"The resignation of Adel Abul-Mahdi from his placement being a Vice President came in response to popular will and in line together with the reservations with the (Shiite) religious leadership above the creation of unnecessary government positions," Ammar al-Hakim, head with the Shiite religious party of Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), advised reporters in Baghdad.

Hakim hoped that the resignation of Mahdi, an SIIC leading member, would be a communication for other political blocs to not fight on positions and to demand slimming Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki' s cabinet.

Mahdi submitted his resignation letter on Friday to President Jalal Talabani, but the president did not accept it however, a resource from your SIIC stated on condition of anonymity.

Early in the 12 months, the Iraqi parliament voted by bulk on assigning three vice presidents for President Jalal Talabani. But divisions among the Iraqi political blocs, which fiercely fought to obtain energy by seizing as a lot positions because they can, delayed the appointment for months.

On Might twelve, the Iraqi parliament eventually voted for two Shiite politician Adel Abdul Mahdi and Khudair al-Khuzaie in the National Alliance, and Sunni Arab Tariq al-Hashimi through the cross sectarian bloc of Iraqia, to fill the vacancy with the three vice presidents.

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