Baghdad, Iraq ? Iraq’s parliament approved three key security officials Thursday, ending an impasse that had threatened Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s plan for Iraqis to gradually take over security from U.S. and other foreign troops.

The three men were sworn in just minutes after al-Maliki in a separate event announced that U.S. forces had killed terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose al-Qaida in Iraq group has been blamed for some of Iraq’s bloodiest bombings. While welcoming his death, Iraqi and American officials warned that many insurgents remain, and at least five bombings killed at least 39 people and wounded around 120.

The new appointments are considered crucial for al-Maliki’s government to implement a plan that foresees Iraqi soldiers and police taking over responsibility for Iraq’s security within 18 months. That would open the way for the eventual withdrawal of foreign troops.

Efforts to name the defense, interior and national security ministers had been snarled by squabbling among the Shiite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish parties in the unity government that took office May 20. The frictions were fed by the surge in sectarian conflict in recent months.

Iraq’s new defense minister is Gen. Abdul-Qader Mohammed Jassim al-Mifarji, a Sunni Arab. Members of that formerly dominant minority are the backbone of the insurgency, and many people feel it is crucial to have Sunnis deeply involved in the new government to weaken support for the guerrillas.

The other two ministers came from the Shiite majority – Jawad al-Bolani as interior minister and Sherwan al-Waili as minister of state for national security.

Meanwhile, a bomb targeting a police patrol killed two officers and four civilians and wounded 11 people in the New Baghdad area in the eastern part of the city, Lt. Ali Abbas said.

The worst bloodshed came about an hour later, when a bomb exploded at the entrance to a fruit market in the same area. Thirteen people, including two women, died and at least 39 people suffered wounds, police Col. Ahmed Abod said.