Nouri al-Maliki

Iraq's prime minister has named his defense and interior ministers, and a head of national security, following weeks of negotiations over the posts.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki named Jawad al-Bolani, a Shi'ite Muslim, as his interior minister; Sunni Arab General Abdel Qader Jassim as the defense minister; and another Shi'ite, Sherwan al-Waili, as the new head of national security.

Filling the posts was considered crucial for Mr. Maliki as he moves to implement a plan for Iraqi forces to take charge of security to allow for the reduction and eventual withdrawal of foreign troops.

In other developments Thursday, insurgents carried out a string of bomb attacks across Baghdad, killing at least 27 people. In the deadliest blast, a bomb killed 13 people at a crowded market in eastern Baghdad.