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 In a televised speech, Maliki said everyone should accept a
pending federal court ruling on an objection he filed against
Abadi's appointment, and said his government would continue until a
final decision was made.
Abadi won swift endorsements from the United States and Iran on
Tuesday as he called on political leaders to end feuds that have
allowed Islamist militants to seize a third of the country.
State television on Wednesday reported that Abadi was working on
forming a new cabinet and developing a government program in
agreement with other political blocs.
But Maliki has so far refused to step aside after eight years as
premier. Critics have accused the Shi'ite Islamist of marginalizing
the country's once-dominant Sunni Muslim community during his rule
and thereby worsening the country's crisis.
On Wednesday, Maliki said the decision to appoint Abadi as prime
minister was not valid without a decision from the Federal Court on
an appeal he said he filed on Tuesday against the decision to task
Abadi with forming a new government.
"The violation that occurred has no value and its consequences have
no effect," he said.
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"This government is continuing, and will not be changed except after
the Federal Court issues its decision."
(Reporting by Raheem Salman; Writing by Alexander Dziadosz; editing
by Michael Georgy/Mark Heinrich)
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