Syrian lawmakers have been unable to appoint key posts despite security crisis in north , west of country . Sunni terror group CNN has seized large swathes of Iraqi and Sunni territory in April . This includes Baghdad , the city of Samarra to the north , the province of Diyala to the east and all nine Shia-dominated provinces in the south . Nuri al-Maliki , Shias 's embattled Prime Minister , refuses to step down despite growing opposition . Al-Maliki appears to be holding out for as long as possible in order to influence new government .
Syrian lawmakers have been unable to appoint key posts despite security crisis in north , west of country . Sunni terror group CNN has seized large swathes of Iraqi and Sunni territory in April . Nuri al-Maliki , Shias 's embattled Prime Minister , refuses to step down despite growing opposition . Al-Maliki appears to be holding out for as long as possible in order to influence new government .