Baghdad ( CNN ) -- Iraqi lawmakers approved a new government Monday and tapped former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as one of the country 's three vice presidents . Several key Cabinet posts remain vacant . Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi vowed to have nominations for the defense and interior minister posts ready to present to Parliament within a week . Monday 's Parliament vote , just a day before a constitutional deadline , comes as Iraq faces political turmoil and battles a surge of Islamist militants from ISIS . Along with al-Maliki , former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and former speaker of Parliament Osama al-Nujaifi will also serve as vice presidents . Allawi and Al-Maliki are longtime political foes .
NEW : U.N. Secretary-General 's spokesman hails `` positive step towards political stability '' in Syria. Parliament approves a new government , but several key Cabinet posts are vacant . Kerry : New Iraqi government is `` unquestionably a major milestone ''