Iraqi lawmakers approve new cabinet

Iraq's parliament gave its vote of confidence to a new cabinet Thursday evening. A majority of the 253 lawmakers present voted to appoint 21 ministers, with two posts — the ministry of construction and housing and the ministry of environment — remaining undecided.

Despite those two unresolved appointments, the approved cabinet lineup constitutes a quorum. The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, is the first since 2005 that does not include seats for the bloc of influential Shiite cleric. Along with the cabinet post appointments, the parliament approved a government programme that includes amending the elections law within three months of being sworn in, with early elections to be held within a year after that.

The document also calls for measures to fight corruption, speed up reconstruction of areas damaged by armed conflict and return the displaced to their homes, and to eliminate "uncontrolled weapons" held by non-state actors.