After squabbling political parties failed to name a candidate in the two months, Salih appointed Allawi as new prime minister, Reuters reported.
Allawi would run the country until early elections can be held. He must form a new government within a month.
Former Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi resigned in November, who has recently told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to determine a mechanism for withdrawal of US terrorist forces from Iraq.
MNA/PR