Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, Iraq’s prime minister designate, said today that new ministers of defense and interior would be people with no connections to a political bloc or militia, reflecting an agreement that potentially could pave the way for a resolution of the thorniest issues facing him in forming a Cabinet. Such a step would shortcircuit any competition for those posts between the two Shiite blocs with large militias, and could reassure Sunni Arabs who have complained that the police and Iraqi army have been infilitrated by milita members with the approval of government officials. Full Story