U.N. Chief Calls for Iraq Security Ministers to be Named

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Monday the new Iraqi government as a "positive step" but urged politicians to quickly choose new defense and interior ministers.

Iraqi lawmakers approved a new cabinet of 24 ministers on Monday but key security posts remained unfilled.

"The Secretary-General calls on all Iraqi political leaders to build on the current momentum of collaboration to ensure that a decision is made without delay on the pending appointments of minister of defence and minister of interior," said a statement from his spokesman.

New premier Haidar al-Abadi had come under heavy international pressure to form an inclusive government to win broad support against militants, led by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, who have seized much of the country's Sunni heartland.