Cabinet deal amid Iraqi violence

Iraqi politicians have reached a deal to fill a string of key contested cabinet posts, ending three months of political deadlock.

The announcement came hours after a suicide bomber killed 17 people in a busy part of central Baghdad.

Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari had sought a deal with Sunni Arabs, hoping to stem a rise in insurgent violence.



He refused to reveal the names of the new candidates, insisting they would be presented to Iraqi MPs on Sunday.



Iraq's President Jalal Talabani and his two vice-presidents have signed off the names, Mr Jaafari said.



Reports said that agreement had been reached on all five empty cabinet positions, including the sensitive defence and oil portfolios.



Mr Jaafari indicated that a Sunni would be appointed as human rights minister, and that he was seeking a woman to fill a final deputy prime minister's position.



Earlier, unnamed sources indicated that Saadoun al-Dulaimi, a Sunni Arab, would be named defence minister with Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum, a Shia, filling the oil ministry portfolio.