The Heat: Iraq political tension heightens

The Heat

The crisis in Iraq worsened over the weekend. Political tensions reached new heights in Baghdad when Prime Minister al-Malaki gave a defiant TV speech in his bid to hold onto power. But can he?

Iraq’s president has nominated a new Prime Minister and asked him to form a new government.

In the area near Irbil in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, there’s an international relief effort underway to save the thousands still trapped on the slopes of Mount Sinjar.

CCTV America correspondent Jim Spellman reports.

Mwafaj Aljabbary was born in the Kurdish region and works with the Kurdish diaspora. He joined us from Nashville, Tennessee in the United States.

The former Iraqi Ambassador to the United States, Samir Sumaidaie, joined us in our Washington studio.

We continued the discussion on the deepening crisis in Iraq with retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer.

More Iraq coverage on CCTV America.