15 killed in Iraq

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had pledged earlier this week that the appointments would be made by Saturday, but a parliament source said the rival factions could still not agree.

"Because there is no agreement on the appointments the (parliament) session scheduled for Saturday ... will not go forward," said the source.

Parliament was expected to reconvene on Sunday, but there was no indication that the posts would be filled during the session.

The two ministries have been without permanent heads since the December election and Maliki has been unable to secure a compromise despite forming the rest of his broad-based 37-member cabinet a week ago.

Rivalries among Iraq's sectarian and ethnic groups have prevented a consensus on the security chiefs, who will be charged with reining in the sectarian and insurgent violence plaguing the country.