Iraqi PM dismisses pro-MKO deputy

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki fired his deputy Saleh al-Mutlaq, a staunch supporter of the anti-Iran terrorist Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), for his moves and measures against Baghdad interests.

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 "Maliki has ordered the security forces to prevent Saleh al-Mutlaq from entering the Iraqi cabinet compound," Senior Advisor to Iraqi prime minister Ali al-Badri told FNA on Wednesday.

"At present Mutlaq's office is empty and he is not allowed to enter in," he said.

Badri explained that based on Iraq's laws, Mutlaq is still the deputy prime minister but since his moves are against the government, Maliki has ordered his firing.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has threatened to resign if lawmakers fail to pass a no-confidence vote against Mutlaq after he called him "a dictator", another aide said on Tuesday.

"If the parliament does not pass a no-confidence motion against al-Mutlaq, I will be the one to resign in days," al-Maliki was quoted by the aide as saying to members of his State of Law coalition.