Iraqi parliament approves new PM and government

Iraq’s parliament has approved Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his new government - nine months after an inconclusive election left the country in political limbo. 
 
MPs voted one by one for al-Maliki and a new raft of ministers.
 
However, key cabinet posts for the interior, defence and national security ministries were left vacant.
 
Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, whose cross-sectarian Iraqiya bloc won the most seats, pledged his Sunni-backed coalition would do all they could support the new government.
 
“It is very difficult,” said Prime Minister al-Maliki, “to form a coalition government in a country where there are the political affiliations of different religions and sectarian groups.”
 
The country will now embark on an ambitious programme to exploit its vast oil resources.
 
Previous deals, set up with major oil companies, could boost Iraq’s output capacity to 12 million barrels per day, rivalling global leader Saudi Arabia.
 
Rebuilding the country’s neglected and damaged infrastructure will also be a major priority.
 
 

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