>> well, i think it's important to always keep in mind that adil abdul-mahdi became prime minister as a compromise solution. and that there was no single bloc that nominated him. it was an agreement between -- anyway, muqtada al sadr's bloc and al hamra's block. they got together and chose somebody who was seen as an independent inspect in other words, not belonging to either of their political groups. at the outset, this looked like a sensible arrangement. but adil abdul-mahdi arrived as prime minister with a legacy of a political system that has been hobbled and dysfunctional and certainly not -- not highly regarded by the population. so, he did come with this baggage. he had to deal with this baggage. the fact that he did not have the backing of a single major party rather than being an asset has now proved to be a liability because there's nobody defending him. and even muqtada al sadr who was originally a great backer came out openly a few days ago and said adil abdul-mahdi should resign. the problem is -- there are mechanisms. i don't think the resignation of the government or t

adil abdul mahdi has vowed to resign if a replacement can be found but protesters want much more.sweeping changes to a political system which, they say, has left the majority of people without basic rights and prospects for a bright future. a bomb has exploded in a town in northern syria occupied by turkish forces, killing at least 13 people. the turkish defence ministry has blamed the kurdish ypg militia group for the attack in a region controlled until last month by the kurdish—led syrian democratic forces. no group has said it carried out the attack in tal abyad, which is close to the turkish border. here's the bbc‘s middle east analyst, alan johnston. the moments after the blast. amid the smoke and the debris they try to take in what has just happened. this was a car bomb that went off near a market. civilians were among the casualties but also syrian arab militiamen who were allied with the turkish military. the turks, in a major offensive, recently took this town from local kurdish fighters. turkey regards them as terrorists, and it has been determined to drive them away fro

prime minister adil abdul mahdi has promised to resign, but protestors are demanding sweeping changesentire political system. freya cole has the details. in tahrir square in baghdad, a groundswell of government opposition. these pictures, captured by drones, show the scale of dissatisfaction with the country's political elite. the mass movement is the biggest since the downfall of saddam hussein and it shows no sign of slowing down. iraqi security forces have flexed their military might since tensions boiled over a month ago. this young protester says soldiers are throwing tear gas bombs directly at their heads instead of the ground. it's just one of the causes of mass injury — and more than 250 people have been killed, many of them young men. this derelict tower block has become a central gathering place during the uprising. volunteers have restored power to the building and they are serving free food. while it offers a sense of community and security, the building is a key vantage point, and is under constant threat. translation: the security forces have tried more than once to remo

ayatollah ali khamenei ali al—sistani certainly appeared to withdraw any support from adil abdul—mahdi'sand the lack of services but let's keep in mind that the biggest difference between the chack logic act in iran and in iraq is thatany between the chack logic act in iran and in iraq is that any run they ta ke and in iraq is that any run they take a much more activist approach —— she cleric. adil abdul—mahdi is not going to say this is the plan you are going to take and this is a man will appoint. —— ayatollah ali khamenei ali al—sistani. he is whole plan is to keep a separation between mosque and state and i would suspect that every week we will have a sermon that every week we will have a sermon and it will try to push iraqi politicians closer to having some sort of reform, some sort of deal but, fundamentally, the system needs to be reformed. what role, if any, iran, the regional power and iraq's neighbour playing? the united states 01’ was neighbour playing? the united states or was underestimate the psychological importance of occupation in iran underestimates iraqi nationalism an

officials said pence spoke with iraq's prime minister, adil abdul-mahdi, by phone rather than in person due to security concerns in baghdad. and in baghdad today, a protester was killed and 12 others wounded in clashes with iraqi security forces. the government forces used tear gas and rubber bullets while protesters tew rocks. the protesters are demanding an end to government corruption, more jobs and better services. more than 341 people have been killed and thousands injured since anti-governmentns deations began last month. iraq's prime minister announced octo that he would step down if parliament can agree on a replacement for him. pope francis arrived in tokyo today, launching a three-day visit to japan that will include events in hiroshima and nagasaki. after the pope's plane landed in bad weather, the pontiff rode through streets lined with well- wishers. he met with japanese bishops at the vatican residence, where he emphasized his desire to pay tribute to the victims of the atomic bombings at nagasakand hiroshima and to meet with survivors of wt he called" this tragic episode

i asked him whether this really was the end for iraqi prime minister adil abdul—mahdi.g a little bit too clever by half. if he really wanted to resign and institute a caretaker government, he would have resigned to the president, who would immediately have dismissed the government. instead, he sent a letter to the parliament, so he basically said, "i have every intention of resigning if you can find someone to take my place," but keep in mind that in iraqi politics that can be less about hours and days and more about months. so this could be a delaying tactic? very much it could be a delaying tactic. if he is going to step down, there is the question about whether someone from his own, if you will, bloc, is going to take his place. that needs to have the president's approval if that person is going to take office. but the way the iraqi constitution is — there is a bit of a problem, because in theory, the largest bloc is the one that is able to appoint the prime minister. but what becomes unclear is, after the elections, oftentimes, you have shifting coalitions, shifting

the iraqi prime minister, adil abdul—mahdi, has announced he'll resign, a day after security forces killedment. demonstrators in the capital, baghdad, celebrated the news. around 400 people have been killed since the protests began almost two months ago. thousands of students across the world walked out of class today, as part of a global climate strike. the protests are taking place ahead of the next un climate conference, beginning in madrid on monday. around 120 demonstrations were staged around the uk, as well as more than 3,000 in 150 countries. our science correspondent victoria gill reports from manchester. we care about our future and we demand that those in power care about it as well! another friday, another climate strike. and as the scale of this movement grows, its message is becoming increasingly urgent. youth strikers are trying to put an impending environmental crisis at the top of world leaders' agendas. it's a pretty friendly, even jubilant atmosphere here, but the banners that people are carrying have messages that are really stark. essentially that we're running out of

, shot off tiny fireworks in baghdad's square as the news spread that iraqi's prime minister adil abdul mahdild resign. it came at an unbearable, unnecessary price. wake up, wake up! a mother shrieks over her son's body. he's one of more than 40 gunned down in 48 hours in the shia city where eyewitnesses describe streets being turned into rivers of blood. this young man also killed there wears a t-shirt that says "we want a nation." this is the scene at the morgue. home to some of shia islam's holiest sites heavily influenced by iran and a heartbreaking post asks "does anyone know this young man?" he's a son is the first comment. the square is lined with shrines of those who have died. visitors pray for souls of people they never met. for this woman, it's her way of thanking them for the future for her two children who she brought here for the first time. yes, they are too young to really understand, she says, but i want them to come and experience this. there is a sense and a determination that this will be the chapter in iraq's bloody history that finally alters the status quo that has gove