Developments in Iraq on May 5

May 5 (Reuters) - Following are security and political developments in Iraq on Friday as of 1130 GMT.

Iraq is forming a new government of national unity to combat a mostly Sunni Arab insurgency. Sectarian tensions are running high after the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine in Samarra in February, which unleashed a wave of reprisal attacks.

* Asterisk denotes new or amended item.

DIWANIYA - A police major was killed by gunmen near his house in Diwaniya, 180 km (110 miles) south of Baghdad, on Thursday, police said.

NEAR BALAD - Two Iraqi soldiers were killed by gunmen near Balad, 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, on Thursday, police said.

BAGHDAD - Two policemen were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol in eastern Baghdad, police said.

NEAR SAMARRA - U.S. troops killed three people who fired on them as they were arrested three suspects near Samarra, 100 km (60 miles) north of Baghdad, on Thursday, the military said in statement.

* NEAR MAHAWEEL - Three U.S. soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in Babil province, south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said in a statement. A police spokesman said the blast struck a Humvee patrol vehicle near the town of Mahaweel, 75 km (50 miles) south of the capital.