Iraq: Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi officially assigned as a new prime minister.

Iraq’s President Barham Saleh on Saturday assigned Mouhammed Tawfiq Allawi with forming a new government, according to the state-run Television.

It is noteworthy that “Allawi, 66,” was the Minister of Communications in the first and second Noori Al-Maliki governments, in addition to being a member of the House of Representatives for two sessions.

In a pre-recorded statement posted online, Allawi called on protesters to continue with their uprising against corruption and said he would quit if the blocs insist on imposing names of ministers.

“If it wasn’t for your sacrifices and courage there wouldn’t have been any change in the country,” he said addressing anti-government protesters. “I have faith in you and ask you to continue with the protests.”

Allawi was born in Baghdad and served as communications minister first in 2006 and again between 2010-2012. He resigned from his post after a dispute with former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Parliament is expected to put his candidacy to a vote in the next session, after which point he has 30 days to formulate a government program and select a cabinet of ministers.

Last Wednesday, Saleh announces that he will name a successor to the country’s premier, who resigned in December if parliament did not nominate a candidate within three days.

“If the concerned blocs are unable to resolve the nomination issue by no later than Saturday, February 1… I see an obligation to exercise my constitutional powers by tasking whomever I find most acceptable to parliament and the people,” Barham Saleh wrote in a letter seen by AFP.

Prime Minister Adil Abdel Mahdi resigned in December after two months of deadly protests against his government, but he has stayed on in a caretaker role, as deeply divided political parties have failed to agree on a replacement.