BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi politicians appeared to have broken an eight month political impasse on Wednesday when the Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance agreed to take part in a new government headed by incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Maliki inched closer to a final deal to secure a second term on a day when bomb and mortar attacks targeting Christians across the Iraqi capital killed at least three people and wounded dozens of others.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki appeared likely to win a second term, breaking an eight-month deadlock over a new government, after winning support on Wednesday from members of the main factions.

Politicians from Shi’ite-led, Sunni-backed and Kurdish factions said they were ready to support Maliki when parliament meets on Thursday, and to take part in his government even if some members of the cross-sectarian Iraqiya alliance, including its leader former premier Iyad Allawi, refused to join.

ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi political leaders began a series of talks on Monday that could break an eight month deadlock over forming a new government and assure incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of a second term.

The aim of the meetings, the first of which was hosted by Kurdish regional president Masoud Barzani in the Kurdish capital Arbil, was to agree on a government of national unity including Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds before a parliamentary session on Thursday.

ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi political leaders began a meeting on Monday that could break an eight month deadlock over the formation of a new government and assure incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki a second term.

The meeting, hosted by Kurdish regional president Masoud Barzani in the Kurdish capital Arbil, could last two days and result in a government of national unity that includes Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -A series of bombs rocked mainly Shi’ite areas of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens two days after al Qaeda militants staged a bloodbath when they took hostages in a Christian church.

The bombings occurred hours after a memorial service for some of the 52 hostages and police killed in Sunday’s church raid, and as the Iraqi government vowed to step up security for Iraq’s Christian minority.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Iraq launched an investigation on Tuesday into a church raid in which 52 hostages and police were killed, trying to find out how al Qaeda-linked gunmen managed to storm the building despite checkpoints, an official said.

Sunday’s attack was the bloodiest against Iraq’s Christian minority since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, and drove fear deep into the hearts of many Iraqi Christians who had so far resisted the urge to flee their war-torn country.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Iraq launched an investigation on Tuesday into a church raid in which 52 hostages and police were killed, trying to find out how al Qaeda-linked gunmen managed to storm the building despite checkpoints, an official said.

Sunday’s attack was the bloodiest against Iraq’s Christian minority since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, and drove fear deep into the hearts of many Iraqi Christians who had so far resisted the urge to flee their war-torn country.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – At least seven Iraqi Catholics died on Sunday when police stormed a Baghdad church where gunmen were holding dozens of parishioners hostage, threatening to kill them if al Qaeda prisoners were not released.

The U.S. military said between seven and 10 hostages and seven members of the Iraqi security forces, as well as five to seven attackers, were killed in the rescue operation.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called on rivals to join him in a national unity government on Saturday but potential partners suggested such an alliance may be a long way off.

A March parliamentary election yielded no outright winner, leaving Iraq in limbo and raising fears that insurgents would exploit the vacuum to stir sectarian tensions.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s Kurdish lawmakers are close to allying themselves with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki but Iraq may not have a new government this year, the leader of the Kurdish negotiating team said on Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Ross Nouri Shawis said the Kurds, who are potential kingmakers now that Maliki has won the nomination of the major Shi’ite parties, have met twice with the incumbent and have verbal agreements on many of their demands.