UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the announcement of a new government in Iraq as a major step forward in Iraq’s democratic progress. In a statement of UN, received by AIR in Dubai today, he urged that prompt attention be given to national reconciliation, reconstruction and long-term stability. The Secretary-General pledged continued support from the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for the people and Government in building a prosperous and peaceful Iraq. Iraqi Parliament last evening approved the new government to be headed by incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Parliament approved 29 ministers including al-Maliki to form the new government. The remainder of the 42-member Cabinet is made up of acting ministers for now. With this vote, the political deadlock after parliament election in March in the country has ended. On Nov. 25, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani had officially asked incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to form the country’s next government after the rival political blocs approved earlier a power-sharing deal that ended the eight-month political deadlock.