IRAQ: Islamist Shia Ibrahim Jaafari was named as Iraq's next prime minister yesterday, moving the country a step closer to its first democratically elected government in more than 50 years.
Mr Jaafari announced his own nomination shortly after Iraq's new president, Kurdish former guerrilla leader Jalal Talabani, was sworn into office in parliament, along with two deputies.
"Today represents a big step forward for Iraq and a big responsibility for me," said Mr Jaafari, who spent more than two decades opposing Saddam Hussein from exile. His appointment to the most powerful post under the interim constitution had long been agreed in principle but was delayed by weeks of bargaining over other jobs among the Shia and Kurdish groups that dominate the parliament elected on January 30th.
Mr Jaafari is seen as a moderate Islamist who will reach out to all communities. US officials are confident Iraq will not emulate Shia Iran in establishing an Islamic state hostile to Washington. Mr Jaafari backs the US military presence in Iraq - at least until the country's own security forces are better able to tackle the mostly Sunni Arab insurgency.
He said yesterday that interim prime minister Iyad Allawi, a secular Shia appointed under US supervision 10 months ago, had resigned but would carry on as a caretaker while Mr Jaafari completed his cabinet line-up, he hopes within one or two weeks.
Meanwhile, Mr Talabani (71) took the president's oath of office a day after his election by parliament. Political and religious leaders looked on at a ceremony inside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, seat of government and the vast US embassy.
"I swear by God the great that I will work with devotion to preserve the independence and sovereignty of Iraq and to preserve its democratic and federal system," Mr Talabani said.
"I will work to preserve all freedoms and the independence of the judiciary, and respect all laws, as God is my witness."
Shia Adel Abdul Mahdi and Sunni Arab tribal elder Ghazi Yawar, previously the interim president, were sworn in as vice- presidents immediately afterwards.
Mr Talabani's appointment is a landmark for Iraq's Kurdish minority, which suffered badly under Saddam. He also becomes the first non-Arab president of an Arab state.
The presidency is largely ceremonial and the prime minister has more power. It gives the leaders of the 60 per cent Shia majority, also oppressed by Saddam, a tight hold in Baghdad.
The naming of a Kurd as president and a Shia as prime minister seals the political transformation that has taken place since the overthrow of Saddam's Sunni Arab-dominated regime.