1/6Secretary of State John Kerry at a State Department briefing said that Iraq has cleared a major milestone in the fight against the Islamic State militant group by forming a government that has pledged to ease sectarian tensions, in Washington, Sept. 8, 2014.
Secretary of State John Kerry praised Iraq's parliament for approving a new unity government, calling the step a milestone for the country and a "cornerstone" of U.S. efforts against Islamic State extremists.
2/6Iraq's Vice President Nouri al-Maliki (left) and incoming Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi shake hands during the session to approve the new government in Baghdad, Sept. 8, 2014.
Secretary of State John Kerry praised Iraq's parliament for approving a new unity government, calling the step a milestone for the country and a "cornerstone" of U.S. efforts against Islamic State extremists.
3/6Iraq's incoming Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi speaks to Iraqi lawmakers before submitting his government selectons, in Baghdad, Sept. 8, 2014.
Secretary of State John Kerry praised Iraq's parliament for approving a new unity government, calling the step a milestone for the country and a "cornerstone" of U.S. efforts against Islamic State extremists.
4/6Iraq's incoming Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, right, and Ammar al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, during the session to approve the new government in Baghdad, Iraq, Sept. 8, 2014.
Secretary of State John Kerry praised Iraq's parliament for approving a new unity government, calling the step a milestone for the country and a "cornerstone" of U.S. efforts against Islamic State extremists.
5/6Shiite Sheikh Humam Hamoudi (left), Iraq's new deputy speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, speaks with Iraq's incoming Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as they attend a parliamentary session to vote on Iraq's new government at the parliament headquarters, Baghdad, Sept. 8, 2014.
Secretary of State John Kerry praised Iraq's parliament for approving a new unity government, calling the step a milestone for the country and a "cornerstone" of U.S. efforts against Islamic State extremists.
6/6Members of the incoming Iraqi cabinet speak to one another during a parliamentary session to vote on Iraq's new government at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad, Sept. 8, 2014.
Secretary of State John Kerry praised Iraq's parliament for approving a new unity government, calling the step a milestone for the country and a "cornerstone" of U.S. efforts against Islamic State extremists.
