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" Nuri al-Maliki is now one of Iraq's three vice presidents . Parliament approves a new government, but several key Cabinet posts are vacant . Kerry: New Iraqi government is "unquestionably a major milestone"