Iraqi PM to present defence, interior names Sunday

BAGHDAD, June 1 (Reuters) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki today said he would present his candidates for the interior and defence ministers to parliament on Sunday.

''We have reached a semi-closed road so I will go to the parliament with names of the candidates so that parliament decides,'' he told reporters.

Maliki named his cabinet on May 20 without the interior and defence ministers after failing to reach a consensus deal among the main blocs, the Shi'ites, Sunnis, Kurds and secular parties, who form his national unity government.

''Agreement among blocs became almost impossible,'' he said.

REUTERS SI BST1626