A Shiite political party today said it would not participate in the formation of a new Cabinet, saying the selection of the ministers was being dictated by personal interests that ran counter to the spirit of national unity.

PETREL RESOURCES, the Dublin-headquartered oil exploration company, has signed a framework case study agreement with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil concerning the Merjan Oil Field area of the troubled country.

More violence struck Iraq ahead of the anniversary on Saturday of the start of the US-led war that ousted Saddam Hussein: a deadly car bomb exploded in a southern city, three Iraqi journalists died in a drive-by shooting and three US soldiers perished in mortar attacks.