Saturday, 18 October 2014

Iraq crisis: MPs complete unity government

File photo: Shia volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against militants of the Islamic State, take part in a field training in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, 27 September 2014 Iraqi forces are battling Islamic State militants who have seized parts of north and west Iraq
Iraq's parliament has approved new defence and interior ministers, completing the new Iraqi government after weeks of delay.
Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban, a Shia, was appointed interior minister, while Khaled al-Obeidi, a Sunni, was confirmed as defence minister.
It comes as Iraq's military seeks to tackle Islamic State (IS) militants who have seized large parts of the country.
On Friday, a curfew was imposed in the city of Ramadi amid fierce fighting.
The vote by Iraqi MPs will be a big relief both inside and outside Iraq after weeks of wrangling, says BBC Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher.
A more inclusive cabinet is seen as an essential first step in countering IS fighters, particularly among Iraq's Sunni minority, our correspondent adds.
The previous Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was forced to resign in August, as the Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities accused his administration of pursuing sectarian policies.
File photo: Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi speaks during a news conference in Baghdad, 25 August 2014 
 Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's new cabinet is now complete
IS militants had exploited discontent with Mr Maliki's government, initially gaining the co-operation of some Sunni rebels.
A new unity government was sworn in on 8 September, headed by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, with Sunni and Kurdish deputy prime ministers.
However, the key posts of interior and defence minister had not been filled until now, with previous nominations by Mr Abadi rejected by parliament.
Car bombs Iraqi government forces, supported by US-led air strikes, are battling IS militants near Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and the city of Tikrit, which was seized by IS earlier this year.
Anbar is a strategically important province, and home to Iraq's second-largest dam, the Haditha dam.
Seizing Anbar would give IS control of a stretch of territory across much of Syria and Iraq, enabling it to establish a supply line and potentially launch attacks on the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
Iraqis inspect the scene of a car bomb attack at Karada district in central Baghdad, Iraq, 18 October 2014 
 Iraq's capital Baghdad has been hit by several bomb attacks in recent days
On Thursday, officials said more than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in a series of attacks in mainly Shia areas of Baghdad.
The capital was rocked by further attacks on Friday night, as a series of car bombs killed at least 23 people.
Meanwhile, US military officials said in a statement that they had conducted 10 airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq, and 15 air strikes against IS targets in Syria, on Friday and Saturday.
IS buildings, oil facilities and armed vehicles were among the targets destroyed, the statement added.

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