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Iraqi Official: Parliament Approves 3 Key Cabinet Ministers

Associated Press

   BAGHDAD - Iraq's deputy parliament speaker says the legislature has
   approved three Cabinet ministers whose posts have been vacant since the
   formation of the government in October.
   Hassan al-Kaabi told The Associated Press that the parliament approved
   Najah al-Shammari for defense minister, Yassin al-Yassiri as interior
   minister and Farouq Amin Othman for the post of justice minister. The
   three were sworn in on Monday.
   Al-Kaabi said election of education minister has been postponed as the
   current candidate didn't get enough votes.
   In October, Iraq's parliament voted to confirm Prime Minister Adel
   Abdul-Mahdi's new government while leaving the four Cabinet posts
   unfilled, underscoring the discord plaguing Iraqi politics.
   Abdul-Mahdi had earlier proposed others for the posts but his proposals
   were rejected by other groups until an agreement on the new names was
   reached.

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