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Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki Orders Troops To Guard Baghdad Amid 'Coup' Talk

Reuters,Michael B KelleyAug 11, 2014, 03:08 IST

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki indicated that he will not drop his bid for a third term and accused the president of violating the constitution in a tough televised speech likely to deepen political tensions as a Sunni insurgency rages.

Maliki, seen as an authoritarian and sectarian leader, has defied calls by Sunnis, Kurds, some fellow Shi'ites and regional power broker Iran to step aside for a less polarising figure who can unite Iraqis against Islamic State militants.

Here are some reactions to his speech:

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Sandra Maler; writing by Michael Georgy)