IRAQI LEADERS ARE «SOME DISTANCE» FROM FINALIZING THEIR NEW GOVERNMENT BUT AMERICANS SHOULD BE PATIENT OVER THE PACE OF THE PROTRACTED NEGOTIATIONS THAT INVOLVE MORE THAN SIMPLY PICKING OFFICIALS TO FILL POSTS, THE U.S. AMBASSADOR SAID SUNDAY. PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE JAWAD AL-MALIKI HAS 30 DAYS UNDER THE IRAQI CONSTITUTION TO PRESENT A CABINET LIST TO PARLIAMENT FOR APPROVAL AFTER HE WAS FORMALLY TAPPED SATURDAY TO HEAD THE NEW NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT. «I THINK WE'RE SOME DISTANCE FROM A FINAL GOVERNMENT LINEUP,» AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW. «HE HAS 30 DAYS TO PUT HIS GOVERNMENT TOGETHER. WE HOPE HE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT SOONER.»
