BAGHDAD, April 24 (UPI) -- Political détente and violence worked in parallel Monday amid continued bombings killing eight people and the settlement of the cabinet crisis.
U.S. President George Bush congratulated President Jalal Talabani on his re-election to the top post, in an official statement. Bush contacted Talabani by telephone reaffirming "Washington's appreciation of his personality, leadership and courage."
"You can count on us as friends of Iraq as much as you can count on the support of the United States for restoring security and peace in your country," Bush was quoted as saying to Talabani.
Talabani "expressed appreciation of U.S. role in liberating Iraq from dictatorship and stressed Iraq's support of the United States in combating terrorism as well as his country's determination to proceed on the path of democracy."
Also U.N. Secretary-General Special Representative in Baghdad Asharaf Kadi congratulated Talabani and his two deputies Adel Abdel Hadi and Tareq al-Hashemi, as well as Jawad al-Maliki for their appointments as prime minister and Mahmoud al-Shamhadani as speaker of Parliament.
Kadi urged for an expedited political process and "exploiting the new political stamina for a national unity government as quickly as possible."
Parallel to the political breakthrough, violence continued as four car bomb explosions killed eight and injured dozens in various parts of Baghdad.
Security sources said one blast targeted a police checkpoint near the health ministry in central Baghdad, killing two and injuring eight.
Also on Monday, Iran said one of its nationals went missing in Iraq while traveling from the Iranian border to Baghdad.
The Iranian News Agency said Ghulam Reza Benham and an Iraqi companion disappeared in the border province of Diali, obviously kidnapped by gunmen.
Benham represented an Iranian transportation company doing business in Iraq. His fate remains unknown.
