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Bush Hails Formation of Iraqi Government

Posted on: Monday, 22 May 2006, 00:04 CDT

WASHINGTON _ President Bush focused on the positive about Iraq Sunday, hailing as a "new day" the long-delayed formation of an Iraqi government.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki won parliamentary approval of his multiethnic cabinet on Saturday after five months of intense negotiation, although he left vacant two key positions.

"The formation of a unity government in Iraq is a new day for the millions of Iraqis who want to live in freedom," Bush said at the White House. "And the formation of the unity government in Iraq begins a new chapter in our relationship with Iraq."

He said he called al-Maliki, parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and President Jalal Talabani to congratulate them.

"I assured them that the United States will continue to assist the Iraqis," Bush said, adding that a democratic Iraq will be an ally and "a devastating defeat for the terrorists and al-Qaida."

He did not address news of yet more suicide bombings in Baghdad that killed at least 19 people Sunday.

Escalating violence has made the last three months the deadliest for Iraqis since the United States invaded just over three years ago.

He also did not discuss al-Maliki's decision to delay naming a defense minister and key interior minister, who will run the nation's police forces.

Appearing on the Sunday morning talk shows, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice echoed other administration officials who warned the United States may not be able to draw down its 130,000 troops soon, even with a government formed.

"It is premature before we've even had this discussion with the Iraqi government to start giving firm commitments on what the drawdown will look like," she said on Fox.

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Source: Daily News

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