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Bombs in Baghdad kill at least 17
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YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSBAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- At least 17 people were killed by three separate bombs in Baghdad on Sunday, a day after the formation of a national unity government that pledged to combat such violence. Thirteen Iraqis were killed and 18 others wounded when a bomb exploded in the Safwan restaurant in central Baghdad's al-Wahdah neighborhood around 1 p.m., an official with Baghdad's emergency police told CNN. The restaurant is behind a police station and is frequented by police, the official said. Iraqi police were among the dead and wounded. Three people were killed and 17 wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in a crowded market in southeastern Baghdad, an official with Baghdad police headquarters told CNN. The explosion occurred around 10:30 a.m. in the al-Jadida neighborhood, the official said. Meanwhile, one person was killed and 15 were wounded Sunday when a car bomb exploded in northwest Baghdad's Shula neighborhood around 12:15 p.m., the official reported. In southwestern Baghdad, five civilians were wounded when a bomb targeting an Iraqi police patrol exploded in the Saydiya neighborhood around 8 a.m. Sunday, the official said. The bomb missed the patrol. Bush praises new governmentA day after Iraq's parliament approved the country's new government, President Bush on Sunday praised the country's elected leadership for working together, and proclaimed it "a good day for the millions of Iraqis who want to live in freedom." "The formation of the unity government in Iraq begins a new chapter in our relationship with Iraq," Bush said from the White House. Bush said he telephoned Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki as well as Iraq's president and speaker on Sunday morning "to congratulate them on working together to form the unity government." "I assured them that the United States will continue to assist the Iraqis in the formation of a free country because I fully understand that a free Iraq will be important ally on the war on terror, will serve as a devastating defeat for the terrorists and al Qaeda, and will serve as an example for others in the region who desire to be free." Iraq's first permanent government since the fall of Saddam Hussein was sworn in Saturday, despite the failure to fill three ministry posts because of political disputes. "The main problem now is security, and they could not appoint defense and interior [ministers]," said prominent Sunni Muslim politician Saleh al-Mutlag, who walked out of the proceedings. "This session is illegal," al-Mutlag said. "They added seven ministries without getting approval." Al-Mutlag said he and others had asked the government to wait longer to try to fill the critical posts. (Watch why the historic day was not trouble-free -- 3:49) Al-Maliki said he would temporarily run the Interior Ministry, and he made a temporary appointment to the Defense Ministry -- Salam al-Zawbai, a Sunni politician who also had been designated as a deputy prime minister. A third Cabinet post -- ministry of state for national security -- also remains open and will be temporarily overseen by designated Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, a Kurd. Shiites are predominant on the list of Cabinet members for the government's new four-year term, reflecting the Muslim sect's strong showing in the December 15 parliamentary election and their large population in Iraq -- an estimated 60 percent. UK: No 'easy road'British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett welcomed the new government but noted that developing democracy "is not going to be an easy road." As political infighting left gaps in the government, a roadside bombing, apparently targeting laborers, killed 22 people in Baghdad's Shiite Sadr City neighborhood on Saturday. Despite yet another incident of the everyday deadly violence in Iraq, many lawmakers spoke optimistically of the new Cabinet. Deputy parliament speaker Khalid al-Attiyah declared it a "historic day for Iraq." "We pray to God almighty to give us strength so we can meet the ambitious goals of our people who have suffered a lot," al-Maliki told the 275-member body. He promised a government of national unity and described an agenda that includes bringing together Iraq's disparate communities, building security, and providing necessary services. The new ministers took their oath of office, promising to "preserve the independence and sovereignty of Iraq" and its people, and to "protect its integrity." CNN's Ryan Chilcote, Barbara Starr and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report. 
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