Instant view: Reaction to Iraq's new government

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi parliament approved a new government on Tuesday with incumbent Nuri al-Maliki as prime minister, ending nine months of political limbo after an inconclusive March parliamentary election.

Here is reaction to the government's formation:

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES

"Today's vote in the Council of Representatives is a significant moment in Iraq's history and a major step forward in advancing national unity. I congratulate Iraq's political leaders, the members of the Council of Representatives, and the Iraqi people on the formation of a new government of national partnership.

"Yet again, the Iraqi people and their elected representatives have demonstrated their commitment to working through a democratic process to resolve their differences and shape Iraq's future.

"Their decision to form an inclusive partnership government is a clear rejection of the efforts by extremists to spur sectarian division.

"Iraq faces important challenges, but the Iraqi people can also seize a future of opportunity. The United States will continue to strengthen our long-term partnership with Iraq's people and leaders as they build a prosperous and peaceful nation that is fully integrated into the region and international community."

TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRIME MINISTER, TURKEY

"We are pleased that Iraq's new government has been approved.

"Iraq will make a significant contribution to regional peace by constructing its internal peace."

SHADI HAMID, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, BROOKINGS DOHA CENTER

"There is a renewed sense of cautious optimism now. The important thing now is that there will be a national unity government with buy-in from the Sunni minority. The deal the parties worked out is rather elaborate but the critical thing is that they were able to get to this point through peaceful negotiations without any return to large-scale violence.

"That said, power-sharing deals like this one tend to be quite fragile and so the next few months will present a crucial test for the two rival blocs. Can they find an arrangement that works on a day-to-day basis? A major question mark is what the newly announced national strategy council will look like and what powers it will have. If Allawi uses the council to undermine Maliki then all bets are off."

THEODORE KARASIK, SECURITY ANALYST AT INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST & GULF MILITARY ANALYSIS

"With the government formation, the positive aspect is that there is now forward progress being made, but the negative is the residual affects of not having proper governance (for nine months).

"The key challenges ahead are building the government itself without alienating various factions that would lead to more political discontent. Also, if violence erupts among political entities, this will hamper progress in order to shift the political order. Certain entities know this fact as do some outside powers and forces."

EMAN RAGAB, IRAQ EXPERT AT CAIRO-BASED AL-AHRAM CENTRE FOR POLITICAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES:

"This shows that the parties realize violence is not going to solve any of the problems between them and peaceful negotiation is the only solution. It also tells us the system is beginning to show signs of stability compared to 2006 and the new government might be more stable than its predecessor."

"The elections of March 2010 raised hopes among the Iraqi people that the new government would be more effective in providing services to them. It has been months without a government being formed. The new government will not be allowed the luxury of taking months to form a plan and years to implement it. People want fast solutions for the provision of social services and addressing the challenge of security."

WATHIQ AL-HASHEMI, BAGHDAD-BASED IRAQI POLITICAL ANALYST

"This government will face huge challenges. ... We hoped that this would be a government of technocrats. But unfortunately ... it is a government of heads of political parties or top politicians. And this will create a great obstacle for Maliki inside his cabinet. In other words, it means the conflict will transfer from parliament to the cabinet."

"We, as a state, are facing great challenges and we need qualified, academic and professional candidates and not politicians. I believe this government -- with this make-up and the challenges waiting for it -- will not last for a long time and will collapse."

(Reporting by Caroline Drees in Baghdad, Andrew Hammond in Dubai, Tom Pfeiffer in Cairo; editing by Jim Loney)