Topic: Haider al-Abadi

Iraqi President Barham Salih appointed veteran politician Adnan al-Zurfi as prime minister Tuesday and tasked him with forming a new government.

On Dec. 9, 2014, a Senate Intelligence Committee report said the CIA's interrogation of terror suspects was more brutal than it told the White House or public.

The Iranian government waged a secret war against the Islamic State in neighboring Iraq for years -- spying, providing aid to the group's enemies and scheming to break alliances with other insurgents, documents show.

The Islamic State on Thursday confirmed the death of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and announced his replacement -- Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.

Mass protests in Iraq are continuing despite a vicious crackdown that has left 231 people dead, many of them shot by snipers and gunmen from the Hashd-al-Shaabi militia.

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces turned over 150 captured Islamic State fighters to the Iraqi Army on Thursday.

Twice in the past week, the Iraqi parliament blocked the appointment of key ministerial posts by Iraq's new Prime Minister Dr. Adel Abdul Mahdi.

On Dec. 9, 2008, federal agents arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges in a scheme involving the sale of Illinois' open Senate seat.

The Iraqi government imposed a curfew in Basra after clashes between protesters and security forces left at least five people dead, government officials said.

Police fired tear gas and a water cannon at protesters seeking better services and employment opportunities, police and activists said.