(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki submitted his new Cabinet on Monday, clearing a hurdle to seating a government more than nine months after national elections even though serious disputes with one of his key allies remained.
Parliament was expected to vote on the list of 42 ministers and other top government posts as early as Tuesday, according to Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance that won the most seats in the March 7 election and, until this month, bitterly fought to prevent al-Maliki from keeping his job. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with al-Maliki at a joint news conference Monday night, al-Nujaifi said the prime minister had met his obligation to designate Iraq’s new leadership by the constitutional deadline of Saturday.
“I am very happy today,” al-Maliki told reporters. “What has happened today is new evidence that we, as Iraqis, cannot continue our differences forever.”
Although 13 of the posts were given to acting ministers, al-Nujaifi’s endorsement suggested that Iraqiya was on board. Officials said all but three of those posts will be filled with permanent candidates by Saturday.
The remaining posts would be filled within a month to give lawmakers more time to ensure they are run by politically independent figures, officials said.
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