Bush says “new day” for Iraq with new government
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush on Sunday
said the formation of a new government marked a “new day” for
Iraqis and pledged that the United States would help in Iraq’s
development as a free country.
Bush said he had called Iraq’s president, prime minister
and speaker to congratulate them on bringing together a unity
government. Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has put
together a cabinet of Shi’ites, minority Sunni Arabs and Kurds.
It was sworn in on Saturday, more than three years after the
U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Bush said the formation of a new government “is a new day
for the millions of Iraqis who want to live in freedom.”
Bush’s approval ratings have fallen to near lows for his
presidency partly on growing public discontent over the Iraq
war.
Bombs killed at least 19 people in Baghdad on Sunday as the
new government met for the first time since it was sworn in.