Vice-President Joe Biden calls move ‘key milestone’

Washington: The United States hailed the nomination of a new Iraqi Prime Minister as a “key milestone” on Monday and offered to step up help in rolling back gains by Islamic militants.

The Vice-President, Joe Biden, made the offer to Iraqi President Fuad Masum, who had asked Haidar al-Abadi to form a new government, replacing that of incumbent premier Nuri al Maliki. In a second call, Bidden also relayed the US President’s congratulations to Abadi and restated “his commitment to support an inclusive Iraqi government.”