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Iraqi Lawmakers Elect Two Security Ministers

by VOA News October 18, 2014

Iraqi lawmakers approved the critical security posts of defense minister and interior minister in Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's government, amid the fight against the Islamic State group.

Parliament Saturday voted in Khaled al-Obeidi, a Sunni lawmaker from the northern city of Mosul, as the new defense minister. Mohammed al-Ghabban, a Shi'ite lawmaker from a powerful political bloc, was elected interior minister.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the election of the two powerful security ministers a 'very positive step forward.' He said they were critical positions to be filled in order to assist with organizing efforts in the fight against the Islamic State.

Control over those two powerful ministries has long been a source of tension among Iraq's feuding political parties.

Inclusion of Sunni minority

The U.S. and other countries have been pushing for a more representative government that can reach out to Iraq's Sunni minority.

Iraqi lawmakers approved most of Abadi's Cabinet last month and officially voted him in as prime minister to replace Nouri al-Maliki.

Critics have said Maliki marginalized Iraq's Sunnis, helping give rise to Islamic State.

In Washington Saturday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki welcomed the approval of key cabinet members in Iraq.

"We congratulate the Iraqi people and their elected representatives in the Iraqi parliament on the selection of seven new cabinet ministers today. These ministers, including new Ministers of Defense, Finance and Interior, represent the diversity of Iraq, and complete an inclusive cabinet led by Prime Minister Abadi,' Psaki said.

She called the development 'another important step in the long-term campaign' to defeat Islamic State militants and 'restore stability to Iraq.'

Car bombs

A wave of car bombs in Baghdad late Friday killed at least 24 people. One of the attacks took place near a cafe in the Shi'ite neighborhood of Baladiyat.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.