Iraq gets new government as 24 killed

New Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addresses the inauguration national unity government. Picture / Reuters

BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki vowed to rein in violence and heal Iraq's sectarian wounds after parliament approved his national unity government to end months of stalemate that have raised fears of civil war.

Hours after bombs killed 24 people, underlining the scale of his task, Maliki said restoring stability was the top priority of a broad coalition whose formation gave Iraq its first fully sovereign government since US troops overthrew Saddam Hussein.

Two days short of a deadline set with Maliki's nomination a month ago, a deal struck late on Friday was backed by most sectarian and ethnic groups. It gave another week for agreement on ministers for the key interior and defence portfolios, as well as a less powerful national security minister.

"We will work (to) ... preserve the unity of the Iraqi people," said Maliki, a no-nonsense Shi'ite Islamist who vowed to "close up divisions that have emerged through sectarianism".

US President George Bush vowed that the United States would stand by Iraq's new government of national unity.

"Iraqis now have a fully constitutional government, marking the end of a democratic transitional process in Iraq that has been both difficult and inspiring," Bush said in a written statement.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who like Bush has invested massive personal political capital in the now widely unpopular war to topple Saddam, said: "I'm obviously deeply relieved we've got a government.

"It's been six months of agonising wait to get one."

The main Sunni Arab leadership, which controls the bulk of the Sunnis' 50-odd seats in the 275-member chamber, held firm after the walkout by the dissidents. Washington says a Sunni presence at last in a full, sovereign government can draw Saddam Hussein's once-dominant minority away from revolt into politics.

Sectarian wrangling has delayed formation of a government since an election in December. In-fighting within Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish groups, added to Maliki's difficulties. Days more arguing are likely over the interior and defence jobs, filled respectively for now by Maliki and a Sunni deputy premier.

Iraqis, who turned out in large numbers to vote in December, have been growing impatient for a leadership that can address their massive problems -- security, but also a devastated economy and poor basic public services.

"No matter who rules, he must lead us to safety. The country is devastated. We hope the government can save what's left," said Jabbar Isho Gorgis, a 42-year-old photographer in Baghdad.

Hundreds of people are being killed every month in Baghdad alone -- 12 bodies were found on Saturday, all bound and shot in the head -- and 100,000 or more have fled homes in fear since the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine in February.

Sunni Islamists like al Qaeda's Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other rebel groups from the minority Sunni community are waging a relentless campaign of violence.

Militias tied to political parties have tens of thousands of men under arms and Iraq's oil sector is crippled after years of war, international sanctions and more recently rebel sabotage.

Just hours before parliament sat in the heavily fortified Green Zone, protected by US military firepower, a bomb killed at least 19 people in Baghdad's Shi'ite Sadr City slum.

In the Sunni town of Qaim, near the Syrian border, a suicide bomber killed five policemen inside a police station. A further 58 people were wounded in the Baghdad blast, which was typical of al Qaeda. Baghdad and, especially, mostly Shi'ite southern Iraq have also seen violence between Shi'ite factions.

The bomb targeted men gathered after dawn hoping to be hired for casual labour: "When will this end?" one teenager sobbed as he stood amid pools of blood. "Where is the government?"

- REUTERS