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Iraq Parliament confirms PM Abadi's nominees for Ministers of Defense and Interior

The Iraq Council of Representatives confirmed seven new cabinet ministers on Saturday, including Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's nominees for defense and interior.

By JC Finley
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi makes a few comments during his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama (not shown) at the UN in New York on September 24, 2014. UPI/Alan Tannenbaum/Pool
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi makes a few comments during his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama (not shown) at the UN in New York on September 24, 2014. UPI/Alan Tannenbaum/Pool | License Photo

BAGHDAD, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Iraq's Council of Representatives approved Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's selection of seven new cabinet ministers on Saturday.

"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," said U.S. Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki.

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Abadi struggled to gain support for his nominees to the key national security posts following last month's government formation.

Rival factions took issue with Abadi's nomination for interior and defense ministers last month. The Minister of Interior is typically reserved for a Shiite and Minister of Defense reserved for a Sunni.

Abadi's preferred candidate, Riyadh Ghareeb, a Shiite engineer and former labor minister, was viewed by Abadi's own Shiite party, State of Law, as lacking experience in the security field while the Iranian-backed Shiite militia, Badr Corps, preferred to nominate one of their own. Abadi, however, worried that a Badr leader could alienate the Sunni minority.

In the end, a Badr member was nominated, possibly in response to a threat by Badr officials that they would withdraw from government if a Badr candidate was not named.

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Lawmakers approved Badr member Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban as the new Minister of Interior on Saturday.

Sunni lawmakers faced internal divisions in September when Abadi forced a vote for his nominee, Sunni Islamist Jaber al-Jaberi, who was considered a less contentious choice than Sunni member of Parliament and Iraqi Air Force engineer Khalid al-Obeidi, but lacking in experience.

Obeidi was selected Saturday as the new Minister of Defense.

"I voted yes for both of them because we are in need of these two minister -- not them specifically but in general we need ministers for these ministries," Sunni lawmaker Hamid al-Mutlak said following Saturday's confirmation.

Vice President Joe Biden spoke by phone Saturday with the Iraqi prime minister to congratulate him on the selection and approval of the final Cabinet, the White House said, adding "The Prime Minister and Vice President discussed the work ahead, including steps to rebuild Iraq's security forces and enlist all of Iraq's communities in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant," also known as IS.

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