Biden congratulates Maliki for forming government

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden congratulated on Tuesday Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for forming the new government. “Al-Maliki received a phone call from Biden on Tuesday (Dec. 21), congratulating him for forming the new government,” al-Iraqiya channel reported in a Urgent. After more than nine months of political deadlock and wrangling, parliament in separate votes gave its approval to Maliki, three deputy prime ministers and 29 other cabinet ministers, as well as the government program. And it approved interim ministers for the remaining nine cabinet posts, with Maliki controlling the three security portfolios. SH (P)/SR 35