Security concerns topped the agenda Wednesday as Iraq's new cabinet held its first meeting, a day after the government was formed. Parliament, after nine months of political deadlock, broke the impasse and elected a "partial" cabinet, with 17 out of 42 ministerial seats left vacant.
The move allows the country to have a government for the first time since general elections in March. The main issues facing Iraq in the coming year are security and building the country's infrastructure, particularly electricity, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said.
"We want to proceed in Iraq with greater investment and construction, and these departments should be the most watched and tightly monitored," said al-Maliki during the meeting, according to a statement. The prime minister will be an acting minister for the defence, interior and national security, until lawmakers can agree on who will oversee the key posts. The first cabinet meeting has been criticised for lacking female representation. The new ministers are all men.