The newly-elected Iraqi President Jalal al-Talabani pledged on Wednesday to consolidate national unity in the insurgency-plagued country.

"We will spare no effort to consolidate national unity regardless of religious and sectarian backgrounds," said the confident and beaming Talabani.

He made the pledge following the Iraqi National Assembly (parliament) chose him as the country's new president for the transitional period till the year end.

Along with him, incumbent Finance Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, a Shiite, and the outgoing President Ghazi al-Yawar, a Sunni Arab, were named as the first and second vice presidents.

Addressing the rampaging chaos and violence in the already war-torn country, Talabani vowed to restore security and stability as most Iraqis are calling for.

"We will be working on regaining security and stability as well as getting rid of terrorism," said the veteran Kurd politician.

He also warned Iraq's neighboring countries to stop interfering in Iraqi internal affairs and stop backing the insurgency by providing information and weapons.

"We will be a friend to whoever wants to be a friend, and enemy to whoever wants to be an enemy," Talabani said.

Insurgency and al-Qaida sponsored terrorism have plunged Iraq into almost daily killings, bombings and kidnappings. The new Iraqi government has to fight an uphill battle to address the insecurity which have drawn much criticism from Iraqi people.

In addition, Talabani said the US-led foreign forces will be pulled out of the country after Iraq regains stability.

"The foreign troops in Iraq will return to their countries after they help stabilize the country," he said.

The first Kurd to take Iraq's presidency, Talabani promised to spare no effort "in achieving the goals of the Iraqi people... and carrying out the Iraqi duties without sectarian or racial differences."

With many thanks to the parliament for choosing him as the new president, Talabani wrapped up his speech as lawmakers stood up and burst out into a loud applause.

The forming of the three-member presidential council finally put an end to the long hagglings between the winning Shiite and Kurd blocs and lawmaker said a new government will be set up by next week.

According to the interim constitution, the presidential council will have two weeks to designate a prime minister and his cabinet, which shall be put a trust vote in the legislature.

Shiites and Kurds in Iraq have been eager to involve the minority Sunnis into political landscape in order not to further alienate the marginalized community or incite any national strife.

Most of the Sunnis kept away from the Jan. 30 polls due to intimidation or calls to boycott. As a result, there are only 17 Sunni-manned seats in the 275-member parliament.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2005)