The new ministers then took the oath of office, with Maliki keeping several top posts himself, temporarily. He insisted he had done his best to form his government, but that many were angry with him, because posts were few and job-seekers numerous. He also vowed to appoint more women ministers for the remaining positions.
Analysts warn, however, that there are some negotiations ahead. The big test will be whether the members of this new national unity government, who have spent the past nine months fighting and arguing with each other, can pull together for the good of the whole country.
Analyst Marina Ottaway of the Carnegie Endowment for Peace points out there are several questions remaining to be answered now that Maliki has formed his government.
"There are two key issues now: one, what he does with the ministries that he kept in his hands for the time being, because those are crucial ministries and the second is: can a coalition that contains so many parties in it really govern? We can only wait and see on that," said Ottaway.
Maliki's national unity government contains representatives from each of Iraq's main political and religious groupings, among them Shi'ites, Sunnis and Kurds. Twenty-nine of the 42 ministerial posts were filled on a permanent basis and 13 were filled temporarily.
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2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27
2013-11-27