Iraqi parliament confirms three cabinet nominees

By Ibrahim Saleh

BAGHDAD

Iraq's parliament on Tuesday gave a vote of confidence to three cabinet nominees put forward by Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.

A majority of Iraqi MPs approved Nouri al- for the planning portfolio; Qusai Suhail for the higher education and scientific research portfolio; and Abdul-Amir al-Hamadani for the culture portfolio.

The MPs, however, failed to agree on who should head up the key ministries of interior, defense, justice, education, and immigration, amid ongoing differences between Iraq’s Al-Bina and Al-Islah parliamentary blocs.

Assembly Speaker Mohamed al-Halbusi called another parliamentary session for Thursday.

Thursday’s session will see MPs vote on the remaining nominees, Abdul-Mahdi confirmed Tuesday.

Tuesday’s vote brings the total number of ministers in Abdul-Mahdi's government to 17 after 14 others were confirmed by parliament in late October.