Iraqi ex-leader Maliki faces prosecution for losing Mosul to ISIS

There's a lot of talk in the U.S. presidential race about who's to blame for the rise of Islamic State, but in Iraq, the finger is being pointed at former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. On Monday, Iraq's parliament voted to refer to government prosecutors a damning report blaming Maliki and about 30 other politicians and generals for losing Mosul, Iraq's second city, and a third of Iraq to ISIS in June 2014.

Several military commanders have accused Maliki of giving the order to abandon Mosul, a city of one million, amid the attack by the smaller ISIS forces. The parliamentary report blames him only for not realizing the extent of the threat from ISIS because he relied on corrupt commanders whom he failed to then hold accountable when Mosul was captured. The fall of Mosul was a big blow to Baghdad and helped lead to Maliki's ouster.

The report, which the judiciary can act upon with prosecution or Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi can use to refer officers for court-martial, also accuses the mayor of Mosul, governor of Ninevah province, former army chief of staff Gen. Babakir Zebari, and other senior officials. For more information, you can watch the Reuters video below. Peter Weber

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