What happened
Iraq's parliament last week approved the first Cabinet formed under the country's new constitution, though several key ministries were left vacant. The 39-member 'œunity government' includes representatives of the country's major ethnic and religious groups'”Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, and Christians'”and four ministers are women. Some Sunnis nonetheless complained that the Cabinet had too many Shiites, and would not safeguard their people from continuing reprisals by Shiite militias. Because Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki could not resolve all tensions within the governing coalition, he left three key ministerial posts open'”interior, defense, and national security'”while negotiations continued.
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