Iraq's incoming Prime Minister Nurial-Maliki said on Tuesday that the formation of the country's new government will be finalized within this week. The prime minister-designate told a news conference in Baghdad that he expected to form the new government by "today or tomorrow."

 

"Maybe today or tomorrow, we will complete the formation of the government," said al-Maliki.

 

The Shiite leader said that nominations for key cabinet positions including oil, defense, interior, finance and foreign affairs have been completed and the new cabinet would be submitted to the Iraqi parliament this week.

 

Maliki was nominated as the new premier last month, after months of political wrangling over who should head the next Iraqi government after a December general election.

 

Under Iraq's constitution, Maliki has until May 21 to form the cabinet, the first four-year term government since former president Saddam Hussein was ousted in the US-led invasion in 2003.

 

The establishment of the new unity government will mark a new era in the war-torn country, which has been plagued by sectarian violence and insurgent attacks.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2006)