UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday a power sharing deal by Iraq's rival parties was a "major step" that must be quickly followed up by forming a new government, his spokesman said.
Ban "welcomes the agreement on the government formation process in Iraq which represents a major step forward in the country's democratic process," the spokesman said in a statement.
He called the deal after eight months of deadlock, under which Nuri al-Maliki was named prime minister-designate, "a compromise that will serve the collective interest of the Iraqi people."
"The secretary general calls on Iraqi leaders to continue demonstrating the same spirit of partnership in moving swiftly to conclude the formation of a new government."
Ban offered UN help in Iraq's reconciliation efforts.
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