Iraqi lawmakers approve new government to begin fight ISIS
Written by : Mohamed Abdel Fattah
9Sep 2014
Iraqi lawmakers approved a new government Monday and tapped former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as one of the country's three vice presidents.
New premier Haidar al-Abadi had come under heavy international pressure to form an inclusive government to win broad support against militants, led by the Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group, who have seized much of the country's Sunni heartland.
Al-Abadi’s predecessor Nouri al-Maliki resigned in August amid accusations from the Sunni and Kurdish communities that he was bolstering sectarianism.
Al-Abadi released a statement, in which he vowed to “work with all communities in Iraq.” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the new government a “major milestone.”
Abadi, a Shi’ite Islamist, included members of Iraq’s Shi’ite majority and its Kurdish and Sunni minorities in his cabinet .Abadi said he would initially run the Defense and Interior Ministries himself, and gave lawmakers a week to agree on new ministers before filling the posts with his own choices.
He vowed to rebuild the Iraqi army, which nearly collapsed this summer in the face of ISIS militants have taken control over vast swaths of Iraq’s northern territory and continue to pose a serious threat to the central authorities.
Many Sunni rebels have been recruited into the extremist group’s swelling ranks after becoming estranged by a government seen to support indiscriminate attacks against Sunnis.
And he promised to work to improve Baghdad’s thorny relationship with Iraqi Kurdistan. He also said he would push a program of decentralization.
President Barack Obama called Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to congratulate him on the approval of a new government and discuss its efforts to fight Islamic State militants, the White House has said.
Obama, during the call, expressed his commitment to work with all communities in Iraq as well as regional and international partners to strengthen Iraq's capabilities to fight against ISIS.
On Sunday, U.S. military it launched fresh airstrikes around Haditha Dam in western Iraq, targeting Islamic State militant group there for the first time in a move to prevent the group from capturing the vital dam.
Dams have been a key target for the jihadists, and there has been major fighting around Iraq's largest dam on the Tigris River north of militant-held second city Mosul, which has been a major focus of the US air campaign.
US officials have previously expressed concern about the integrity of both Haditha and Mosul dams, which require constant maintenance as a result of under-investment.The two dams are important sources of both power and irrigation water for farmers.
Previous strikes since Obama launched the US air campaign on August 8 had been mainly in support of Kurdish forces in the north.
International concern has been building for some time over ISIS - which has carried out numerous atrocities including killings, kidnappings and attacks on minorities in areas it controls in Iraq and Syria.
Obama, criticised last week for saying the US "did not have a strategy" to defeat Isis in Iraq and Syria, also gradually expanded his military objectives, saying the aim was to degrade and destroy Isis, rather than just to protect US citizens and vulnerable minorities.
The United Nations has accused IS of ethnic cleansing in northern Iraq, detailing a campaign of mass detentions and executions in Christian, Turkmen and Yazidi Kurdish areas.
Iraq’s Parliament speaker said members would vote on a cabinet during Monday’s session, though many anticipated a further delay. Even so, members of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra sat in the chamber on Monday, preparing in case there was something to celebrate.
Sources
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/iraq-mps-approve-new-government-kerry-to-visit-region
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/obama-calls-new-iraqi-pm-to-discuss-isis-threat-114090900058_1.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/08/world/meast/iraq-government/
9Sep 2014
Iraqi lawmakers approved a new government Monday and tapped former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as one of the country's three vice presidents.
New premier Haidar al-Abadi had come under heavy international pressure to form an inclusive government to win broad support against militants, led by the Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group, who have seized much of the country's Sunni heartland.
Al-Abadi’s predecessor Nouri al-Maliki resigned in August amid accusations from the Sunni and Kurdish communities that he was bolstering sectarianism.
Al-Abadi released a statement, in which he vowed to “work with all communities in Iraq.” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the new government a “major milestone.”
Abadi, a Shi’ite Islamist, included members of Iraq’s Shi’ite majority and its Kurdish and Sunni minorities in his cabinet .Abadi said he would initially run the Defense and Interior Ministries himself, and gave lawmakers a week to agree on new ministers before filling the posts with his own choices.
He vowed to rebuild the Iraqi army, which nearly collapsed this summer in the face of ISIS militants have taken control over vast swaths of Iraq’s northern territory and continue to pose a serious threat to the central authorities.
Many Sunni rebels have been recruited into the extremist group’s swelling ranks after becoming estranged by a government seen to support indiscriminate attacks against Sunnis.
And he promised to work to improve Baghdad’s thorny relationship with Iraqi Kurdistan. He also said he would push a program of decentralization.
President Barack Obama called Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to congratulate him on the approval of a new government and discuss its efforts to fight Islamic State militants, the White House has said.
Obama, during the call, expressed his commitment to work with all communities in Iraq as well as regional and international partners to strengthen Iraq's capabilities to fight against ISIS.
On Sunday, U.S. military it launched fresh airstrikes around Haditha Dam in western Iraq, targeting Islamic State militant group there for the first time in a move to prevent the group from capturing the vital dam.
Dams have been a key target for the jihadists, and there has been major fighting around Iraq's largest dam on the Tigris River north of militant-held second city Mosul, which has been a major focus of the US air campaign.
US officials have previously expressed concern about the integrity of both Haditha and Mosul dams, which require constant maintenance as a result of under-investment.The two dams are important sources of both power and irrigation water for farmers.
Previous strikes since Obama launched the US air campaign on August 8 had been mainly in support of Kurdish forces in the north.
International concern has been building for some time over ISIS - which has carried out numerous atrocities including killings, kidnappings and attacks on minorities in areas it controls in Iraq and Syria.
Obama, criticised last week for saying the US "did not have a strategy" to defeat Isis in Iraq and Syria, also gradually expanded his military objectives, saying the aim was to degrade and destroy Isis, rather than just to protect US citizens and vulnerable minorities.
The United Nations has accused IS of ethnic cleansing in northern Iraq, detailing a campaign of mass detentions and executions in Christian, Turkmen and Yazidi Kurdish areas.
Iraq’s Parliament speaker said members would vote on a cabinet during Monday’s session, though many anticipated a further delay. Even so, members of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra sat in the chamber on Monday, preparing in case there was something to celebrate.
Sources
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/iraq-mps-approve-new-government-kerry-to-visit-region
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/obama-calls-new-iraqi-pm-to-discuss-isis-threat-114090900058_1.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/08/world/meast/iraq-government/
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