Baghdad, Iraq ? Facing the prospect of a Shiite Muslim landslide, Sunni politicians offered Saturday to participate in mapping the nation’s political future. But Sunni rebels showed no sign of compromise, killing three U.S. troops and at least 33 Iraqis in a string of attacks.

Officials of the Shiite-led coalition that has rolled up a big lead in last weekend’s elections said they wanted the prime minister post in the upcoming government — casting doubt on chances that U.S.-backed Prime Minister Ayad Allawi can keep his job.

Meanwhile, police questioned the driver and translator of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, who was seized by gunmen Friday near Baghdad University — the first reported kidnapping of a foreigner since the Jan. 30 vote. But police said the two were not suspects in her abduction.

Allawi, whose ticket is running a distant second in election returns, had been seen as a possible compromise candidate if the Shiites and their allies don’t win the two-thirds of the 275 National Assembly seats needed to pick the government.

But the United Iraqi Alliance — a Shiite-led group whose leaders have ties to Iran — appeared confident it would have to be given the top spot.

The Iraqi election commission released no new election returns Saturday, but it predicted it would announce final vote totals by Thursday.