Iraqi parliament approves new government
Baku, December 22 (AZERTAC). Iraq`s parliament has approved a new government including all major factions, ending nine months of deadlock after inconclusive elections.
In a special session, MPs voted for the 29 ministerial candidates nominated by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who was reappointed for a second term.
But doubts persist about whether all the political groups can work together.
The key ministries of interior, defense and national security remain unfilled because nominees could not be agreed.
US President Barack Obama called the approval of the cabinet a "major step forward in advancing national unity".
"Their decision to form an inclusive partnership government is a clear rejection of the efforts by extremists to spur sectarian division," he said.
The parliamentary election held on 7 March left no one group with a majority in Iraq`s 325-seat Council of Representatives.
The parliament also approved the creation of a National Council for Strategic Policies, headed by Mr. Allawi. It is intended to oversee foreign policy and security issues, but it is not clear how much power it will have.
MPs also backed a plan to liberalise Iraq`s economy, fight terrorism, address ongoing sectarian divisions, and repair relations with neighboring Arab countries.
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