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                  Iraqi Lawmakers Elect Two Security Ministers

   by VOA News

   Iraqi lawmakers approved the critical security posts of defense
   minister and interior minister in Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's
   government, amid the fight against the Islamic State group.

   Parliament Saturday voted in Khaled al-Obeidi, a Sunni lawmaker from
   the northern city of Mosul, as the new defense minister. Mohammed
   al-Ghabban, a Shi'ite lawmaker from a powerful political bloc, was
   elected interior minister.

   Control over those two powerful ministries has long been a source of
   tension among Iraq's feuding political parties.

   Inclusion of Sunni minority

   The U.S. and other countries have been pushing for a more
   representative government that can reach out to Iraq's Sunni minority.

   Iraqi lawmakers approved most of Abadi's Cabinet last month and
   officially voted him in as prime minister to replace Nouri al-Maliki.

   Critics have said Maliki marginalized Iraq's Sunnis, helping give rise
   to Islamic State.

   A wave of car bombs in Baghdad late Friday killed at least 24 people.
   One of the attacks took place near a cafe in the Shi'ite neighborhood
   of Baladiyat.

   No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/iraq-lawmakers-elect-two-security-min
   isters/2488121.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/iraq-lawmakers-elect-two-security-ministers/2488121.html