The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Baghdad

Iraq's main Sunni Arab bloc rejoined the Shi'ite-led government on Saturday in a breakthrough for national reconciliation after parliament approved its candidates for several vacant ministerial posts.

"Today, parliament voted to accept our candidates t This means the Accordance Front has officially returned to the government," the bloc's spokesman, Salim al-Jubouri, told Reuters after the vote.

"It is a real step forward for political reform."

Getting the Front to return after it quit the cabinet a year ago in a row over power sharing has been seen as key to healing divisions between majority Shi'ites and minority Sunni Arabs.

Sunni Arabs have little voice in the current cabinet, which is dominated by Shi'ites and ethnic Kurds.

Parliament questioned candidates for 10 vacant cabinet jobs, including five ministries and a deputy prime ministerial post that had previously been allocated to the Accordance Front.