Iraqi parliament approves partial govt

BAGHDAD:

Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi was sworn in on Thursday with only a partial cabinet after lawmakers failed to reach a consensus on key postings, including interior and defence.

Basim Mohammed was appointed as the country's new oil minister while Fuad Hussein was kept on as the foreign minister in the new government, lawmakers told Reuters.

Parliament approved 14 ministers in the new government but failed to reach consensus on several remaining posts, including the interior and defence portfolios.

The session witnessed heated exchanges among lawmakers after some objected to the approval of the nominee for interior minister, lawmakers said. On May 1, US President Donald Trump voiced strong support for Zaidi.