Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has unveiled sweeping reforms to reduce government costs and fight corruption after protests across the country.

 

He said senior political appointments should not be based on sectarian or party quotas and moved to abolish the posts of vice-president and deputy PM.

 

Most of Abadi's proposed reforms will require parliamentary approval.

 

The move follows recent anti-government protests sparked by unreliable electricity amid a major heatwave.

 

On Friday, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani - Iraq's most influential Shia cleric - also urged Mr Abadi to "strike with an iron fist" against corruption and make political appointments based on ability rather than party or sectarian affiliation.

 

Iraq's system of sharing government posts between sectarian groups has long been criticised for promoting unqualified candidates and encouraging corruption.

 

The country has three vice-presidents - two Shia and one Sunni - and three deputy prime ministers - a Shia, a Sunni and a Kurd.

 

One of the Shia vice-presidents is former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has previously said he supported reform.

 

Abadi's seven-point plan also includes a requirement for a number of government positions to be filled with political independents - a move aimed at cracking down on corruption.

 

It also calls for a reduction in the cost of personal bodyguards for officials and an increase in the budget of the national security forces.

 

The move is one of Mr Abadi's biggest challenges to date, says the BBC's Ahmed Maher in Baghdad.

 

Though he has secured the approval of his cabinet, Mr Abadi must take the measures to parliament, where his opponents will make it difficult for him to press ahead with his reforms.

 

Failing to get his proposals through would undermine his credibility among Iraqis, but swift action is unlikely, our correspondent says.

(BBC)