File photo of Nuri al-Maliki
Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday the president's decision to name a replacement for him as prime minister was a "dangerous violation" of the constitution.
Delivering a speech broadcast on television and flanked by political allies promised "we will fix the mistake".
He told the army and security forces they were engaged in a sacred battle against Islamic State Sunni militants, who have again swept through the north.
© Thomson Reuters 2014