A BOMB hidden in a minibus exploded near the offices of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in eastern Baghdad yesterday, killing two Iraqi civilians and wounding three, police said.

The incoming prime minister told neighbouring countries in an interview televised today not to interfere in Iraq, while expressing gratitude to them for sheltering dissidents during Saddam Hussein’s rule.

POLICE discovered bodies of 20 Iraqis yesterday — apparent victims of sectarian killings the US hopes the new government can end.

Seven car bombs exploded across the Iraqi capital Baghdad today, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens, as politicians met to try to finalise a new Cabinet.

Six car bombs exploded in Baghdad today, killing at least six people and wounding dozens, as Iraqi politicians met to try to finalise a new Cabinet.

Three explosions occurred outside the heavily guarded Green Zone in Baghdad today, killing seven Iraqi civilians and wounding eight others, a US official said.

Iraq’s Shiite alliance nominated tough-talking politician Jawad al-Maliki as prime minister, in a move that broke the long impasse over forming a new government to pull the country out of its sectarian strife.

IRAQI Shi’ite politicians agreed yesterday to nominate Jawad al-Maliki as prime minister, replacing the incumbent in a bid to clear the way for a long-delayed new government.

IRAQI Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, under intense pressure to give up plans for a second term, agreed yesterday to let Shi’ite lawmakers reconsider his nomination, a step that could mark a breakthrough in the months-long effort to form a new government.

Embattled Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari today asked the Shiite alliance to confirm his nomination for a second term, and Shiite politicians plan to meet this weekend to decide whether to replace him.

A suicide bomber attacked an Iraqi army recruiting centre today in northern Iraq, killing at least 40 people and wounding 30 others, the Iraqi military said.

Sunni Arabs and a key secular party charged that parliamentary elections were tainted by fraud, and demanded an inquiry into preliminary results showing the governing Shiite religious bloc with a larger than expected lead.

SUNNI ARABS alleged yesterday that last week's Iraqi parliamentary elections were fraudulent, especially in Baghdad province.

TALKS on the Iraqi constitution remained deadlocked last night over a proposal to ban members of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Party from public life.

A Shiite negotiator today reported progress in talks with Iraq’s Sunni Arabs and Kurds on the new constitution but said problems remained on the proposal to ban members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party from public life.

A Shiite negotiator said today that a draft constitution would be presented shortly to parliament but that talks with Sunni Arabs was still ongoing to try to win their acceptance.

Following a series of incidents along the Kuwaiti border, Iraqi legislators today accused Kuwait of stealing their oil as well as chipping away some of their national territory.

A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the central city of Ramadi, killing 11 Iraqi police commandos and injuring 14 other people including two US Army soldiers, the US military said today.