Secretary of State John Kerry praised Iraq's parliament for approving a new unity government, calling the step a milestone for the country and a "cornerstone" of U.S. efforts against Islamic State extremists.
Iraqi Parliament Approves New Prime Minister
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Secretary of State John Kerry at a State Department briefing said that Iraq has cleared a major milestone in the fight against the Islamic State militant group by forming a government that has pledged to ease sectarian tensions, in Washington, Sept. 8, 2014.
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Iraq's Vice President Nouri al-Maliki (left) and incoming Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi shake hands during the session to approve the new government in Baghdad, Sept. 8, 2014.
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Iraq's incoming Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi speaks to Iraqi lawmakers before submitting his government selections, in Baghdad, Sept. 8, 2014.
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Iraq's incoming Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, right, and Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, during the session to approve the new government in Baghdad, Iraq, Sept. 8, 2014.
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Shiite Sheikh Humam Hamoudi (left), Iraq's new deputy speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, speaks with Iraq's incoming Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as they attend a parliamentary session to vote on Iraq's new government at the parliament headquarters, Baghdad, Sept. 8, 2014.
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Members of the incoming Iraqi cabinet speak to one another during a parliamentary session to vote on Iraq's new government at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad, Sept. 8, 2014.