US President George W. Bush hailed on Tuesday the formation of a new interim Iraqi government and praised the work of United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi but warned more violence might lie ahead.

"The naming of the new interim government brings us one step closer to realizing the dream of millions of Iraqis, a fully sovereign nation with a representative government that protects their rights and serves their needs," Bush said at a press conference at the Rose Garden of the White House.

Bush said he called United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and thanked him for the role the United Nations played in the setup of the Iraqi interim government.

"Earlier today I spoke to Secretary-General Kofi Annan. I congratulated him on the UN's role in forming this new government," Bush said.

In particular, Bush praised the work of United Nations envoy Brahimi.

"Consulting with hundreds of Iraqis from a variety of backgrounds, Mr. Brahimi has recommended a team that possesses the talent, the commitment and the resolve to guide Iraq through the challenges that lie ahead," Bush said.

Bush said he played no role in the formation of the Iraqi interim government.

"I had no role. I mean, occasionally somebody said this person may be interested or that, but I had no role in picking, zero," Bush said.

Meanwhile, Bush cautioned that there might be more violence and many challenges ahead.

"Many challenges remain. Today's violence underscores that freedom in Iraq is opposed by violent men who seek the failure not only of this interim government but of all progress toward liberty," Bush said.

Bush vowed to stand with the Iraqi people "in defeating the enemies of freedom and those who oppose democracy" in Iraq.

Earlier Tuesday, Iraq's new president Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar, vice presidents Ibrahim Jaffari and Roj Nuri Shawis as well as prime minister Ayad Allawi took an oath in Baghdad, the first step of taking over sovereignty from the US-led occupation authority on June 30.

Bush has promised to hand over "full" sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government but meanwhile will keep the 138,000 US troops currently stationed in Iraq "as long as necessary."

Source: Xinhua