Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Iraqi PM Sees 'Unity Government' This Week
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1223B94:3919ACA Prime
Minister-designate Nouri al-Maliki says top Cabinet positions already
have been filled, based on nominations by Iraq's Shi'ite, Sunni Arab
and Kurdish power blocs Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Nouri
al-Maliki says he hopes to complete formation of a national unity
government very soon.







Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Nouri al-Maliki talks to reporters
during a news conference in Baghdad, Tuesday, May 9, 2006Speaking at a
news conference in Baghdad Tuesday, Mr. Maliki said the top Cabinet
positions already have been filled, based on nominations by Iraq's
Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish power blocs.

Mr. Maliki did not name any of his ministerial choices. He says he
expects the Cabinet to be complete either today or Wednesday, so he
can seek parliament's approval of the new government later this week.

The prime minister says the new defense and interior ministers will
have no links to any sectarian militias - a key demand of the U.S.-led
coalition, since those ministries control all Iraqi military and
police forces.

American officials say a national unity government in Iraq is key to
stemming bloodshed and averting a possible civil war.

Mr. Maliki has about two more weeks to meet a constitutional deadline
for naming a new government.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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