Turkey joined several other countries Friday in hailing neighbouring Iraq's newly struck power-sharing deal as a critical step in stabilising the Middle Eastern nation.
"Turkey considers the legal process, in which the first step has been made, is of critical importance in establishing the foundations for security and political stability in Iraq, along with the well-being of the Iraqi people," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement.
Ankara "welcomes with satisfaction" the power-sharing pact that would return Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shiite, to power, leave Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, as president and have a Sunni Arab from Iyad Allawi's Iraqiya bloc as parliament speaker, it added.
Turkey's statement came as the pact already appeared to fray Friday with a walkout in Iraq's parliament staged by dozens of Iraqiya lawmakers.
The United States, Britain and France have also praised the Iraqi accord, reached after eight months of fraught negotiations and deadlock following elections.
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