SECTARIAN Iraq prime minister Nouri al-Maliki stepped down on Thursday night, caving in to international and domestic pressure.

Mr Maliki announced his resignation on national television late on Thursday, standing alongside his chosen successor, Islamic Dawa Party comrade Haider al-Abadi.

He said he was stepping aside in favour of his “brother” in order to “facilitate the political process and government formation.”

Mr Maliki also agreed to drop a suit before the constitutional court challenging Mr Abadi’s nomination.

The premier-designate now faces the immense challenge of trying to unite Iraqi politicians.

The country’s major political factions distrust each other deeply and the army seems unable to regain territory in the north and west taken by the Islamic State (Isis) group.

Mr Maliki had been struggling for weeks to stay on for a third four-year term as prime minister amid an attempt by opponents to push him out, accusing him of monopolising power and pursuing a fiercely pro-Shi’ite agenda that has alienated the Sunni minority.

The United States, the UN and a broad array of political factions in Iraq have backed Mr Abadi.

Meanwhile, European Union leaders met to discuss the pros and cons of arming Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

After weeks of near-silence, the threat of Isis prompted the bloc to convene an emergency meeting of foreign ministers.

France said on Wednesday that it would send weapons to the Kurdish forces and neither Britain nor Germany have ruled out sending arms.