New Iraqi govt headed by Haidar al-Abadi sworn in

The political deadlock that followed the resignation of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has finally ended with the Parliament approving a new government comprising Sunni and Kurdish deputy prime ministers, a report said.

After Maliki stepped down from the post, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, a moderate Shia, was asked to form a government. The new Prime Minister's cabinet got a nod from Iraq's parliament on Monday as the nation is bracing itself to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) insurgency within its boundaries, reported the BBC.

The United States welcomed the decision by saying that the formation of the new government was a "major milestone" for Iraq. US Secretary of State John Kerry also commended the inclusive nature of the new government and said that he would travel to the Middle East soon to forge the broadest possible coalition of partners to defeat the ISIS.

Meanwhile, Abadi has said that he would fill the posts of interior and defence minister within a week.

Maliki resigned in August after his administration was accused by the Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities of following sectarian policies.