Only 29 ministers out of 42 are approved. Posts are shared among Sunni and Shia Arabs and Kurds. Allawi gets the National Council for Strategic Policies whose powers are not clearly defined. Sources tell AsiaNews that few expect ministers to work for the country rather than their own group.

Baghdad (AsiaNews) – After nine months, Iraq's parliament has voted in a new government representing all of the country’s main ethnic factions. Newly reappointed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is aware however that the new cabinet has not been met with everyone’s approval. Sources tell AsiaNews that ordinary Iraqis are concerned that government action might break down along sectarian lines.

In today’s session of parliament, MPs approved 29 ministerial candidates nominated by Prime Minister Maliki. An agreement could not be reached over another 13 Maliki had presented. The key posts of ministers of the interior, defence and national security remain empty because nominees could not be agreed upon.

Among the key cabinet appointments that were approved we have Hussein al-Shahristani (Shia Arab) and Saleh al-Mutlaq (Sunni Arab) as deputy prime ministers, Abdul Karim al-Luaibi (Shia Arab) as Oil minister, Rafi al-Issawi (Sunni Arab) as Finance minister, and Hoshyar Zebari (Kurd) as Foreign minister.

Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (Shia Arab) and head of the secular-oriented al-Iraqiyah block, which won the elections but failed to secure a stable majority, becomes the head of National Council for Strategic Policies. The new body is tasked with determining foreign and security policies—how much power it will actually wield appears unclear.

In a speech before the votes, Mr Maliki acknowledged that the new government did not meet “its citizens' aspirations, nor the political blocs', nor my ambition, nor any other person's ambition, because it is formed . . . in extraordinary circumstances”. However, “this is what we have.”

Sources that spoke to AsiaNews described the new government as the product of a difficult delivery because it came after months of diatribe and ineffectiveness.

Especially disturbing is the fact that only one woman is included in the proposed 42-member cabinet and that many of the cabinet members do have the professional background needed in their new functions.

Some Iraqis, after seven long lean years, expected fewer, less sectarian but more competent ministers. Now many fear that ministers will be loyal to their parties rather than to the country.

Others still see something positive. Hope is there, albeit a fragile one.

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• parliament
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• al-maliki