Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki submitted his new Cabinet on Monday. But nearly one-third of the nominees were only acting ministers, as he attempts to buy time to work out disagreements with one his coalition partners — the faction loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Parliament was expected to vote on the list of 42 ministers and other top government posts as early as Tuesday, according to Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance.
According to the AP, All-Nujaifi said the prime minister had met his constitutional deadline to designate Iraq's new leadership.
"I am very happy today," al-Maliki told reporters. "What has happened today is new evidence that we, as Iraqis, cannot continue our differences forever."
Al-Maliki will serve as the acting minister for the nation's top three security posts, said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh. He said the permanent nominees would be selected by Saturday to replace the acting ministers for the 10 other posts.
