WASHINGTON - US President George W. Bush on Thursday praised Iraq's first democratically elected government in half a century as embodying the country's "unity and diversity" and promised lasting US support.
"I join with all Americans in congratulating Iraq's new leaders and in wishing them well as they begin to serve their country in this new government," Bush said in a statement released by the White House.
His comments came after Iraqi lawmakers approved Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's cabinet after weeks of damaging political deadlock, but left several key posts, including the oil and defense portfolios, empty for now.
Despite expressions of concern from Iraq's Sunni Arab minority, which hoped to hold more posts, the US president said that the cabinet "will represent the unity and diversity of Iraq in the months ahead."
At the US State Department, spokesman Adam Ereli said Washington was not concerned about the temporary ministers, vacancies, or the presence of controversial former Pentagon favorite Ahmed Chalabi in the cabinet.
"This is a process that the Iraqis are going to work their way through and deal with consistent with their processes," he said. "So, no, it's not a matter of concern. It's something that, again, that we expect will be handled transparently and responsibly by them."
Bush said the transitional government faced "important challenges" including training Iraq security forces to battle extremists and insurgents as well as providing basic services to Iraqi citizens, even as it forges ahead with the key political job of writing a new constitution for the war-torn country.
"The United States is confident that the new government will meet these challenges in the months ahead, and America will stand by Iraq, its leaders, and the Iraqi people as they continue their work to establish a stable, peaceful, and democratic Iraq," he said.
The United States, which invaded Iraq in March 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein, still has roughly 140,000 troops there. Saddam was marking his 68th birthday in US custody, and was said to be in good health and spirits.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement that Iraqis have Washington's "admiration and support" as they work to produce a draft constitution by August 15, hold a referendum on it by October 15, and finally elect a new government by December 15.
Bush also thanked the outgoing interim Iraqi government, to which Washington handed control in late June 2004, for its "dedicated work."
At least 19 Iraqis were killed in fresh violence, but the incoming administration hopes the political breakthrough will undermine the insurgency, which has been stepped up in recent weeks.
Sunni Arab leaders expressed their disappointment over the partial line-up and warned a fresh political crisis loomed if the demands of the minority were not met.
Despite the vacancies in critical posts, the premier insisted that all major hurdles had been cleared and that a full 37-member cabinet list would be presented within days.
"Today, we face the huge task of trying to reach the stage of elections," Jaafari said, referring to new legislative polls scheduled for December.
Political infighting has dogged the negotiations to form a government since millions turned out for the landmark January 30 elections despite the threat of violence.
The cabinet consists of Jaafari, four deputy premiers representing each of the main ethnic and religious communities, and 32 ministers. It will run the country until the elections planned for December. Six women are in the cabinet.
Two of the deputy premiers have yet to be named, while five portfolios will be filled on a temporary basis until an agreement is reached.
The most significant ministries yet to be attributed are defense, which is destined for a Sunni politician but will temporarily be held by Jaafari, and oil, which Chalabi, a Shiite, will fill in the meantime.

04/28/2005 21:43 GMT