Al-Zaidi Pledged to Restrict Weapons in State Hands

Ali al-Zaidi in Baghdad in a handout photo released by the Iraqi Presidency Office on April 27.

Source: Iraqi Presidency Office/AP Photo

Iraqi lawmakers all but confirmed Ali al-Zaidi as prime minister, following a push by US President Donald Trump to have the businessman and former banker lead the country, according to the parliament media office.

Politicians in Baghdad approved more than half al-Zaidi’s cabinet picks, giving him an effective mandate to form a government. The rest of the cabinet members will be approved after the Eid holiday later this month.