US defense chief tells Iraq's outgoing PM that rocket attacks blamed on Iran-backed militias 'not good for anybody'

Iran-backed Iraqi militias are suspected to be behind Friday's assault on demonstrators in capital

The 77-year-old veteran politician was seen as a unifying figure among Iraq's divided factions and international allies, but popular rage at endemic graft doomed his government

Protesters say Adel Abdel Mahdi's announced resignation is 'only the first step' in rooting out government corruption

Adel Abdel-Mahdi says he will ask parliament to allow him to step down after sermon by country's top Shiite cleric calling for lawmakers to withdraw their support

Hundreds already dead in crackdown against growing protests over rampant corruption and clientelism; UN calls for 'maximum restraint,' including no use of live ammunition

So far, cycle of anti-government protests and heavy-handed security crackdown has left more than 250 people dead

Barham Saleh says PM Adel Abdel Mahdi has agreed to resign if a replacement is found, but no candidate has been accepted by the different parties

No immediate claim of responsibility for attack, which comes as country is rocked by deadly anti-government protests

Adel Abdel Mahdi under threat as his two main backers discuss his removal and spiraling anti-government protests kill over 240