Getting your player ready...
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s prime minister said Friday that he will return half of his annual salary to the public treasury in a symbolic gesture that appeared calculated to insulate himself from the anti-government unrest spreading across the Middle East.
It was a stunning statement for Nouri al-Maliki, who has resisted disclosing his pay in the five years he has led Iraq. He described it as an effort to narrow the gap between the nation’s rich and poor. Al-Maliki narrowly secured a second term in office after months of political negotiations last year. He is thought to earn at least $360,000 annually.
