Iraq's new cabinet had its first meeting today, to address some of the country ongoing problems. After a record breaking nine months of political deadlock, Iraqi parliament voted a new team of minister into office on Tuesday 21st December.
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, responsible for selecting the new cabinet members, met with his ministers this morning. Al-Maliki's advisor, Ali Moussawi, said that the prime minister met with his new team this morning to “to tell them that his three top priorities are security, public services, especially electricity, and relations with neighbouring countries."
After months of political wrangling among Iraq's main factions, the Iraqi parliament unanimously approved Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's 43 selected appointees for the cabinet. But the ministries, on Maliki's priority list, including security and electricity, currently have only acting heads.
For the time being, Maliki has assumed the role of the acting head for the ministries of defence, interior and national security, responsible for ensuring security after the pending withdrawal of US troops by the end of 2011.
The newly appointed cabinet and lawmakers face the difficult task of working together to rebuild the war-torn country, improve security and stabilise the economy. Only time will tell whether Iraq can stand on its own two feet independently.
Sources: AFP, The Independent, Guardian
For more news and expert analysis about Iraq, please see Iraq Focus.
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