Kerry backs Iraqi government

Buoyed by the formation of a new Iraqi government, Kerry embarks on a diplomatic offensive in the Middle East on Tuesday, where he will seek to enlist regional allies in the fight against "Islamic State" (IS) militants.

Speaking in Washington on Monday, Kerry told reporters that Iraq's new government offered the fractured country a chance to overcome its deep sectarian divisions.

"Tonight, we mark what is unquestionably a major milestone for Iraq and what President Obama has made clear will be a cornerstone of our efforts against ISIL," the secretary of state said, using an alternative name for IS.

"Just a few hours ago, overcoming the obstacle of ethnic and sectarian divides, the Iraqi parliament approved a new and inclusive government, one that has the potential to unite all of Iraq's diverse communities for a strong Iraq," he said.

Iraq's parliament on Monday approved Haider al-Abadi, a Shiite, as prime minister and a large portion of his proposed Cabinet. Al-Abadi has asked for an extra week to name the country's defense and interior ministers. Those posts will play key roles in Baghdad's campaign to rout the IS, a Sunni militant group, which has overrun much of northern and western Iraq.

IS has targeted minority Christian and Yazidi religious groups and beheaded two American journalists, triggering international outrage.

Push for inclusive government

The White House has made the formation of a more inclusive Iraqi government a central part of its strategy to defeat the IS. In August, Nouri al-Maliki stepped down as prime minister under intense domestic and international pressure. He had been accused of pursuing a sectarian Shiite agenda, which had allegedly pushed many of Iraq's minority Sunnis into the arms of the IS.

In a telephone call on Monday, US President Barack Obama congratulated al-Abadi on his confirmation as prime minister. Al-Maliki will stay on as one of Iraq's vice presidents, a largely ceremonial role.

"The president and the prime minister agreed on the importance of having the new government quickly take concrete steps to address the aspirations and legitimate grievances of the Iraqi people," the White House said in a press release.

Kerry builds coalition

As part of Washington's broader strategy, Kerry is scheduled to meet with the leadership of both Jordan and Saudi Arabia this week, in an effort to coordinate their efforts against the IS.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Kerry's discussions would focus on "military support to our Iraqi partners, stopping the flow of foreign fighters, countering ISIL financing and funding, addressing humanitarian crises and delegitimizing ISIL's ideology."

On Wednesday, President Obama will deliver a television address to the American people, where he is expected to lay out his strategy to defeat the IS. Washington has already launched 148 airstrikes against the militant group in northern Iraq.

slk/lw (AP, AFP, Reuters)