Iraq's Shia Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki pledged to rein in sectarian violence and rally his divided nation behind a unity government that was inaugurated today as bomb attacks killed 24 people.
Ending months of deadlock, Maliki's cabinet was approved by a show of hands, minister by minister, after a turbulent start to the parliamentary session, when some minority Sunni leaders spoke out against the last-minute deal and several walked out.
Eleventh-hour battles over the key posts of interior and defence left those jobs vacant for now, filled respectively by Maliki, a tough-talking Shia Islamist, and his Sunni deputy prime minister, Salam al-Zobaie.
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 hopes a Sunni presence at last in a full, sovereign government can draw Saddam Hussein's once dominant minority away from revolt into politics.
"We will work within a framework that will preserve the unity of the Iraqi people," Maliki told parliament as he listed 34 policy priorities highlighting security and the economy.
Maliki said he will personally take care of security and improving services such as electricity and water, a deep source of frustration among Iraqis.
Sectarian wrangling has delayed formation of a government since an election in December. Faction fighting over cabinet jobs within the main groups, Sunnis, Shias and Kurds, added to Maliki's difficulties since he was nominated a month ago.
President Jalal Talabani, who last month said he had held talks with less militant groups to lay down their arms, said the unity government was "good news for the Iraqi people" and "bad news for terrorists and murderers".