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19 December 2010
Last updated at 21:17 ET
By Gabriel Gatehouse
BBC News, Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is due to unveil his cabinet shortly, more than nine months after inconclusive parliamentary elections.
It is expected to include all the major factions, including the Kurds, Shia and Sunni Arabs.
Each of the prime minister's nominations will still have to be approved by the Iraqi parliament.
But it is hoped the move will end a protracted period of political deadlock.
This day has been a very long time coming, and there are still a few potential hurdles ahead.
There are 37 posts in all, and dividing up portfolios among Iraq's diverse and often mutually antagonistic factions has been the focus of the past month's political wrangling.
It will be a delicate balancing act for Mr Maliki, who has to reconcile various Shiite groups, as well as the Sunnis and the Kurds, to put together government of national unity that has at least a chance of being able to work together.
It has taken a world-record-breaking nine and a bit months to get this far.
When the government is finally formed, it will be seen as a major breakthrough.
But the real test of this coalition will come when these newly-appointed ministers get down to work, and start to tackle the country's many problems - from neglected and crumbling infrastructure to continuing violence and instability.
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It is expected to include all the major factions, including the Kurds, Shia and Sunni Arabs.
Each of the prime minister's nominations will still have to be approved by the Iraqi parliament.
But it is hoped the move will end a protracted period of political deadlock.
This day has been a very long time coming, and there are still a few potential hurdles ahead.
There are 37 posts in all, and dividing up portfolios among Iraq's diverse and often mutually antagonistic factions has been the focus of the past month's political wrangling.
It will be a delicate balancing act for Mr Maliki, who has to reconcile various Shiite groups, as well as the Sunnis and the Kurds, to put together government of national unity that has at least a chance of being able to work together.
It has taken a world-record-breaking nine and a bit months to get this far.
When the government is finally formed, it will be seen as a major breakthrough.
But the real test of this coalition will come when these newly-appointed ministers get down to work, and start to tackle the country's many problems - from neglected and crumbling infrastructure to continuing violence and instability.
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