LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed Saturday the formation of a new Iraqi government, while his Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett warned of "tough decisions" ahead.

Calling it "a genuine unity governement", Blair, speaking in a televised statement from his official country residence, urged international support for what he called a "very crucial change" in Iraq. The democratic progress also showed that "if we defeat these forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, we defeat them worldwide," Blair said, referring to insurgencies in both countries said to be linked to the Al-Qaeda terror network.

Beckett offered Britain's "continued support and friendship" to Iraq's new Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his cabinet of 37 ministers, who were approved Saturday by the Iraqi parliament.

"I warmly welcome the Council of Representatives' decision to endorse the new Iraqi government under Prime Minister Nouri Kamil Al Maliki," she said in a written statement.

"... I congratulate the Iraqi people as they embark on the challenging road of democratic politics. This is not going to be an easy road. In Britain it has taken centuries to develop our democracy; in Iraq, this process is now firmly underway. "One thing is certain: this government of national unity reflects the diversity and choice of the people. The future of democracy in Iraq now lies in the hands of the Iraqi people," Beckett continued.

The minister said the Iraqi people had shown in their millions that terrorism "has no place in this modern Iraq".

But she warned that the new government would have to "take tough decisions on building democratic structures, building up their security forces and developing their economy" if they were to defeat terrorism.

"Britain will continue to help the Iraqi people face these challenges for as long as Iraq needs us," she added.

Britain was the United States' main ally in the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein. Some 8,000 British soldiers are stationed in Iraq.

Questioned by Sky News, Blair insisted that the coalition would not pull out until the "job" was done.

"The timetable is governed by the job being done," he said. "The new prime minister today made it very clear he, like us, wants to see Iraq in control of its own destiny.

"We have both got the same objectives. We want a transfer to the Iraqis as soon as we can but it has got to be based on the Iraqi force capability being up to the job."

Italy's new Prime Minister Romano Prodi also congratulated Maliki and said the formation of the new government was an important step in the "difficult path towards the reconstruction of a democratic Iraq".

"Italy will support Iraq in its efforts," added Prodi, in a message sent to the new Iraqi prime minister.

Two days days ago, Prodi characterised the war in Iraq as a "serious mistake" and pledged to withdraw the 2,600 Italian soldiers stationed there by the end of the year.

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