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.
Iraqi Parliament Approves New Prime Minister

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Shiite 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.

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Members 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.