Iraq's New Pm Sworn In With Partial Cabinet After Deadlock Over Key Posts

BAGHDAD, May 15 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi was sworn in here on Thursday with a partial Cabinet after lawmakers failed to reach consensus on several key posts, including the interior and defence ministries, reported Xinhua.

Parliament approved 14 members of al-Zaidi's Cabinet, while votes on the remaining portfolios were delayed amid ongoing political negotiations.

During a session chaired by Speaker Haibet al-Halbousi, 266 lawmakers voted in favour of the 14 ministers, according to a parliamentary statement.

Among those approved were Fuad Hussein, who retained his post as foreign minister, Basim Mohammed Khudair as oil minister, and Faleh al-Sari as finance minister.

Voting on other key ministries, including defence and interior, was postponed to allow more time for political consultations.

Following the confidence vote, al-Zaidi and the 14 approved ministers took the constitutional oath before parliament.

Under Iraq's constitution, a prime minister must secure parliamentary approval for the Cabinet and government programme before formally taking office.

On April 27, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi named al-Zaidi, the nominee of the Coordination Framework – the largest parliamentary bloc and an umbrella alliance of Shiite parties – as prime minister-designate.

The constitution gives a prime minister-designate 30 days to present a Cabinet and government programme to parliament for a confidence vote.

Under Iraq's post-2003 power-sharing system, the presidency is held by a Kurd, the parliamentary speakership by a Sunni Muslim, and the prime ministership by a Shiite Muslim.

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA