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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iraq crisis: MPs complete unity government | Iraq crisis: MPs complete unity government |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iraqi MPs have approved new defence and interior ministers, completing a unity government that is battling the spread of Islamic State militants. | Iraqi MPs have approved new defence and interior ministers, completing a unity government that is battling the spread of Islamic State militants. |
| Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban, a Shia, was appointed interior minister, while Khaled al-Obeidi, a Sunni, was confirmed as defence minister. | Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban, a Shia, was appointed interior minister, while Khaled al-Obeidi, a Sunni, was confirmed as defence minister. |
| IS controls large parts of the country, and has been making gains despite US-led coalition air strikes. | |
| On Friday, a curfew was imposed in the city of Ramadi amid fierce fighting. | On Friday, a curfew was imposed in the city of Ramadi amid fierce fighting. |
| The vote by Iraqi MPs will be a big relief both inside and outside Iraq after weeks of wrangling, says BBC Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher. | The vote by Iraqi MPs will be a big relief both inside and outside Iraq after weeks of wrangling, says BBC Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher. |
| A more inclusive cabinet is seen as an essential first step in countering IS fighters, particularly among Iraq's Sunni minority, our correspondent adds. | A more inclusive cabinet is seen as an essential first step in countering IS fighters, particularly among Iraq's Sunni minority, our correspondent adds. |
| Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi had pledged to fill the posts in September, but his previous nominations were rejected. | Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi had pledged to fill the posts in September, but his previous nominations were rejected. |
| The previous Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was forced to resign in August, as the Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities accused his administration of pursuing sectarian policies. | The previous Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was forced to resign in August, as the Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities accused his administration of pursuing sectarian policies. |
| A new unity government was sworn in on 8 September, headed by Mr Abadi, with Sunni and Kurdish deputy prime ministers. | A new unity government was sworn in on 8 September, headed by Mr Abadi, with Sunni and Kurdish deputy prime ministers. |
| Car bombs | Car bombs |
| Iraqi government forces, supported by US-led air strikes, are currently battling IS militants near Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, as well as the city of Tikrit, which was seized by IS earlier this year. | Iraqi government forces, supported by US-led air strikes, are currently battling IS militants near Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, as well as the city of Tikrit, which was seized by IS earlier this year. |
| Anbar is a strategically important province, and home to Iraq's second-largest dam, the Haditha dam. | Anbar is a strategically important province, and home to Iraq's second-largest dam, the Haditha dam. |
| Seizing Anbar would enable IS to to establish a supply line and potentially launch attacks on the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. | Seizing Anbar would enable IS to to establish a supply line and potentially launch attacks on the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. |
| On Thursday, officials said more than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in a series of attacks in mainly Shia areas of Baghdad. | On Thursday, officials said more than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in a series of attacks in mainly Shia areas of Baghdad. |
| The capital was rocked by further attacks on Friday night, as a series of car bombs killed at least 23 people. | The capital was rocked by further attacks on Friday night, as a series of car bombs killed at least 23 people. |
| Meanwhile, US military officials said in a statement that they had conducted 10 airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq, and 15 air strikes against IS targets in Syria, on Friday and Saturday. | Meanwhile, US military officials said in a statement that they had conducted 10 airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq, and 15 air strikes against IS targets in Syria, on Friday and Saturday. |
| IS buildings, oil facilities and armed vehicles were among the targets destroyed, the statement added. | IS buildings, oil facilities and armed vehicles were among the targets destroyed, the statement added. |