With the final results of Sunday'sparliamentary elections expected in 10 days, Iraqi politicians have already started weighing the possibility of forming a nationalunity government.

Initial vote counting revealed the Shiite electoral list might garner the largest percentage of berths in the 275-seat nationalassembly, followed by the list of Kurdish parties and then the list of interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

However, counting separately, no list could succeed in securinga majority, that is, 138 seats, as required to form a governmentalone.

Hussein al-Shahristani, a nuclear scientist and a top figure inthe Shiite list, said efforts were underway to hold a nationalconference.

Echoing the view, Allawi said he would work in the remainingtime of his term to hold a national reconciliation.

Interim Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar also indicated Tuesdaythat a dialogue is ongoing to prepare for a national reconciliationafter the elections.

Meaningful hints also came from the Sunnis who said toparticipate in the preparation for a permanent constitution, whichis a priority task for the national assembly.

Chief of the Islamic Party Muhsen Abdul Hamid said he would liketo take part in the preparations for a new government, and theMuslim Scholars Association also indicated a similar attitude in adeclaration.

If these efforts succeed, Iraq will enter a period ofcoordination between different groups which will facilitate thewriting of a permanent constitution and the holding of a referendumand another general election for a permanent parliament by the endof 2005.

Shiites expect the nomination of Adil Abdul Mehdi, currentfinance minister, for the post of president.

Mehdi is No. 2 in the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution inIraq, one of the strongest Shiite parties in the war-torn country.

Other sources said Shiite parties might agree to keep Allawi, a Shiite secular, in his post for the reason that he is moreexperienced.

After being elected, the national assembly will choose apresidential council -- a president and two deputies, which willname a prime minister and members of a ministerial council.

The premier and his cabinet must win unanimous approval by thenational assembly before assuming office.

The presidential council must agree on a candidate for thepremiership within two weeks, and if it fails to do so, theresponsibility will be handed over to the national assembly.

In this case, the national assembly should designate a candidatewith a majority of two thirds.