Talks over the formation of a unity government, which sectarian squabbles have blocked for the past five months, were again overshadowed by violence that claimed the lives of at least 42 Iraqis.
In the sorst incident a shooting and carbombing at a packed market in Baghdad claimed 23 lives and wounded at least 38 people.
Several women and children were among the dead in the attack, which targeted a mixed Sunni-Shiite area, an interior ministry source said.
A group of gunmen pulled up to the market in a pair of minibuses in the Al-Shaab district and opened fire on a bus stop, killing five people, before making their getaway in one of the vehicles.
The other minibus exploded when bystanders came to the aid of the injured, killing another 18.
At least 17 Iraqis were killed in other attacks in and around the capital and two police officers shot dead in the northern oil hub of Kirkuk.
A US soldier was killed by a bomb in the south of the capital, the US military said, adding that two soldiers were killed in a similar incident in Balad, north of the capital, the previous day.
Appointments
Meanwhile, an Iraqi government could be announced within 24 hours but the appointments of the heads of the coveted security posts will be appointed later.
"Within the next 24 hours the composition of the government may be announced without naming the defense and interior ministry posts," Shiite deputy Hassan al-Sunaid said.
"A number of candidates have been presented to (Prime Minister Maliki) for these posts, but he has not yet made his choice," Mr Sunaid said.
Observers have said strong, independent leaders in the security ministries are needed to stem the continued sectarian violence.
In a sign the cabinet still had some way to go before completion, the Shiite alliance said it was not yet clear what role secular Shiite Iyad Allawi's cross-sectarian party and the Shiite Fadhila party would play.
Their participation "is still undecided," a statement said, while adding that "the government is near completion."
Mr Sunaid said the two favorites to head the interior ministry are independent Shiites Ahmed Chalabi, Washington's former protege, and Qassem Daoud, an ex-national security minister.
"The three names most often cited for the defense ministry post are Hashem al-Hasni, the former parliament speaker (from Allawi's party), the former minister of industry, Osama al-Najafi, and ex-defence minister Saadun al-Dulaimi, all Sunnis," Mr Sunaid said.
Possible cabinet
The new cabinet will be made up of more than 30 ministries, the Shiite deputy said, providing the following rough breakdown of the cabinet posts:
•The Shiite alliance is expected to take at least 15 ministries, including the interior, oil and finance porfolios.
•The Kurdish coalition is to get five ministries, including the foreign affairs and industry portfolios.
•Allawi's secular list is expected to take five ministries, including justice and defense.
•The Sunni Concord Front is expected to take four ministries, including planning and higher education, while the Sunni faction of Salah Motlaq will take three.
•Christians, Turkmen and Shiite Kurds are expected to hold one ministry each.