Mustafa al-Kadhimi sworn in as Iraq’s new Prime Minister

Baghdad: Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Wednesday was sworn in as the country’s new prime minister after weeks of political negotiations. In a session attended by 266 lawmakers late on Wednesday, the lawmakers approved 15 ministers proposed by al-Kadhimi, including Othman al-Ghanmi as interior minister and Gomaa Enad as defence minister.

“It is a difficult stage. The challenges that Iraq faces are great... but they are not greater than our ability to address them,” Mr al-Kadhimi said in his address to the parliament before the voting.