Iraq govt takes shape, bombers kill in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, May 16 (Reuters) Iraq's new government is finally taking shape and could be unveiled this week, negotiators today said, signalling a compromise among sectarian and ethnic factions to rally behind Shi'ite strongman Nuri al-Maliki.

Guerrillas killed 19 people in one incident in Baghdad -- gunmen shot five men police said were members of the Mehdi Army Shi'ite militia and then set off a car bomb in the same bus garage that killed a further 14 people and wounded more than 30.

Senior negotiators from most groups involved in efforts to form a national unity government told Reuters Maliki could name his cabinet as early as Thursday, before the Muslim weekend and four days ahead of a constitutional deadline set a month ago.

''The government is in its final form now. Maliki will absolutely meet the constitutional deadline and will announce the government before it,'' said Dhafir al-Ani, spokesman of the main Sunni bloc in parliament, the Iraqi Accordance Front.

''Nobody wants him to fail. Even those who oppose the political process will not put up obstacles.'' A senior Shi'ite negotiator said: ''The government will be ready soon ... I mean probably in the next 48 hours.'' All played down the significance of a widely leaked list indicating which party would take which ministry, saying there were still disputes, notably on the health ministry. Many names are still in play for key posts, including interior minister.

One surprise could be the nomination of controversial former exile Ahmad Chalabi to that vital security job, several sources said. The much-criticised interior minister may go to finance.

CHALLENGE Five months since an election hailed as a sign most Iraqis, including the once dominant and now rebellious Sunni minority, could come together behind the U.S.-sponsored political process, communal violence has soared, raising questions on how far any new government can stem bloodshed and a mounting refugee crisis.

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