Adel Abdul Mahdi takes oath as Iraq's PM

Adel Abdul Mahdi was sworn in as new prime minister of Iraq on Wednesday after the parliament passed 14 out of his 22 cabinet members.

Mahdi and his 14 cabinet members sworn in following a long parliament session that continued after midnight as the parliament passed the government programme, which was submitted by Abdul Mahdi, and then passed the 14 cabinet members after a heated debate.

Up to 220 lawmakers who attended the session raised their hands to show to the new minister when parliament speaker Mahammed al-Halbousi read out their names one by one.