The aftermath of the foreign-ministry bombing was a rare chance to cut Mr Maliki down to size, leaving the former bead-seller from the Damascus souk with no other choice but to strike out on his own.

• 这次的外交部爆炸事件罕见地威胁到了他的威信，这位曾在叙利亚首都大马士革露天广场，靠卖珠子为生的商贩只有自己走出困境，别无它选。