Wednesday, May 4 2005 08:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: Iraq's first democratically elected Government in half a century was sworn in yesterday (May 3, 2005), but the line-up remained incomplete as wrangling continued over the attribution of key portfolios to the minority Sunni Arabs.

The swearing in of a new Cabinet, seen as a crucial step in Iraq's rocky transition, marked the first time in 1,000 years an Arab country was governed by Shiite Muslims but came against the backdrop of yet more insurgent violence.

"Iraq has witnessed a new step today which can be considered as a turning point in its political process," Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari told reporters after a ceremony held under tight security in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone.

A full Cabinet was expected to have been sworn in yesterday, five days after Parliament only approved a partial line-up, with the portfolios to be handed to Sunni Arabs the main stumbling block.

Jaafari said the delay had been caused by differences within the former ruling minority over the post of Defence Minister.

"There are differences among our Sunni Arab brothers and we did not want to rush the matter for the choice to be satisfactory and acceptable to all Iraqis, especially the Sunnis," he said.

Jaafari explained that several candidates were being considered for the Defence post and predicted that Sunni Arabs would agree on a name "in two or three days".

Vice president Ghazi al-Yawar, who complained of under-representation after the line-up was approved by Parliament, did not attend yesterday's ceremony.

The Sunni Arabs fear a Government dominated by Shiites and Kurds - two communities oppressed by Saddam Hussein's regime - would pursue an aggressive agenda to remove them from the country's institutions and security forces.

But Jaafari made a conciliatory inaugural speech and pledged to build "a new Iraq." He appealed to "those who supported the former regime" of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein to engage "in dialogue instead of terror and killing".

President Jalal Talabani wished the new Government well, saying, "On this historic day, which sees the announcement of the first democratically elected Government, it is my pleasure to congratulate the Iraqi people and wish my brother Ibrahim Jaafari and his colleagues success in their mission."

The new interim Government takes over from Iyad Allawi's US-appointed administration and will be tasked with drafting a permanent constitution and organising fresh elections before the end of the year.

Since Jaafari announced his partial line-up on April 28, insurgents stepped up their attacks, leaving some 150 people dead, mostly civilians.

Fifteen people - two civilians, an Iraqi soldier and 12 insurgents - were killed in huge gun battle that broke out when a checkpoint manned by US and Iraqi forces was attacked yesterday in the western rebel stronghold of Ramadi.

The US military also reported that it had found the body of a pilot who went missing when contact was lost with two US jets overnight. Searches continued for the other pilot.

The military also announced the death of a soldier in a bomb attack near Baghdad airport yesterday, as the death toll from a week of bloodshed continued to mount.