BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s parliament has officially named Haider al-Abadi as the country’s new prime minister and approved most of his proposed Cabinet.
Speaking before parliament, Al-Abadi vowed to push for victory against Islamic State militants.
Meanwhile, the Arab League is calling on its members to fight the extremist group. A proposed resolution does not explicitly back an expanded American military operation targeting the group. It leaves room, however, for it to work with whatever approach President Barack Obama lays out during his planned speech Wednesday on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
The White House says Obama called al-Abadi Monday to congratulate him and the Iraqi people on approval of a new government. Secretary of State John Kerry says Iraq has cleared a major milestone in the fight against the extremists by forming a government that has pledged to ease sectarian tensions in the country.
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262-a-12-(Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks)-“efforts against ISIL”-Secretary of State John Kerry says the formation of a new Iraqi government is a turning point for that nation and for the international fight against the Islamic State militant group. (8 Sep 2014)
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263-a-16-(Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks)-“desire and deserve”-Secretary of State John Kerry says the Iraqi parliament overcame ethnic and sectarian differences to approve “a new and inclusive government.” (8 Sep 2014)
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264-a-14-(Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks)-“divided their country”-Secretary of State John Kerry says Iraq’s leaders must govern their nation with the vision and sense of purpose that helped bring the new government together. (8 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO ZHM109: Iraq’s new Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi speaks to Iraqi lawmakers before submitting his government in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. Iraq’s parliament officially named Haider al-Abadi the country’s new prime minister late Monday and approved most of his proposed Cabinet amid calls by the Arab League for its members to combat the Sunni militant group violently advancing across Iraq and Syria. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, Pool) (8 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO ZHM105: Iraq’s new Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi speaks to Iraqi lawmakers before submitting his government in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. Iraq’s parliament officially named Haider al-Abadi the country’s new prime minister late Monday and approved most of the candidates put forward for his Cabinet amid mounting pressure to form an inclusive government that can collectively cap the advance of Sunni militants. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, Pool) (8 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO ZHM101: Ammar al-Hakim, front, the leader of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, left, and Iraq’s new Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, right , shake hands during the session to approve the new government in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. Iraq’s parliament officially named Haider al-Abadi the country’s new prime minister late Monday and approved most of his proposed Cabinet amid calls by the Arab League for its members to combat the Sunni militant group violently advancing across Iraq and Syria.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, Pool) (8 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO XKK110: Iraqi lawmakers attend the session to approve the new government in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. Iraq’s parliament officially named Haider al-Abadi the country’s new prime minister late Monday and approved most of the candidates put forward for his Cabinet amid mounting pressure to form an inclusive government that can collectively cap the advance of Sunni militants. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (8 Sep 2014)
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