Iraqi president assigns intelligence chief to form government

BAGHDAD, April 9 (KUNA) -- Iraqi President Barham Saleh on Thursday assigned chief of intelligence Mustafa Al-Kadhemi to form a new government after Adnana Al-Zarfi asked to be relieved of the task.
The official Iraqi news agency said Saleh officially assigned Al-Khadhemi to form a new cabinet, pending parliamentary confidence within 30 days.
The president entrusted the intelligence chief with the mission to form a new government a few hours after Al-Zarfi declared that he would not undertake the task for sake of preserving the country's higher interests and unity.
The prime minister, Adel Abdulmahdi, resigned late last year. (end) aha.rk