CRI听力:Iraq's New Government Sworn in

Iraq's new government has been sworn in as the country seeks to tackle Islamic State militants.

The parliament approved the new government headed by Haider al-Abadi, a moderate Shiite, as prime minister.

Abadi has included members of Iraq's Shia majority, and Kurdish and Sunni minorities, in his cabinet.

But the interior and defense ministers have not been named.

Abadi pledged to fill the positions within a week.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also vowed to allow all people in Iraq to participate in liberating the cities controlled by the Islamic State.

''We pledge to develop a popular mobilization of forces and give it a national dimension by making it serve the national reconciliation process. It is to be done by forming a national guard made up of the sons of each province in parallel with the army and the police, with a certain role and level of readiness. And with the aim of establishing it as a backbone of the security operation in the provinces."

Many Sunni rebels have been recruited to IS ranks as it seized large parts of Iraq amid growing tensions between the Sunni minority and the Shia-led government.

Abadi's predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki, was forced to resign last month, as the Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities accused his administration of pursuing sectarian policies.

The US had urged Iraq to form an inclusive government with Sunni representation, describing this as a condition for further military support against the IS.