Iraqi army commander shot dead by insurgents

INSURGENTS assassinated a senior Iraqi army commander yesterday and staged two suicide car bombings, killing 15 people, in violence that politicians fear may deepen if a new government is not formed soon.

Almost two months after an election, politicians from Iraq’s main parties, the Shi’ite alliance and the Kurds, pursued talks to form a government but were squabbling over top cabinet posts.

Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, a key Kurdish negotiator, said Iraq’s new parliament would meet for the second time on Tuesday and would name key officials in the new cabinet.