Sepcial Report: Tension accelerates in Iraq

   BAGHDAD, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Wednesday that he would present the names of the key security ministers to the parliament for approval by this weekend.

   "In the coming three days, the names of the defense, interior and national security ministers will be finalized," Maliki said in an interview with state-run Iraqiya television.

   The new Iraqi government, sworn in on May 20, is the first full-term government after the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, despite the mentioned three key security portfolios remained unfilled.

   The inauguration of the new government failed to bring about immediate improvement in the country's security as surging violence killed over 60 people in the past few days. Enditem