Shia named as Iraq prime minister
New Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari
Mr Jaafari heads the Daawa party, part of Iraq's Shia alliance
Iraqi Shia leader Ibrahim Jaafari has been named prime minister of the
country's new interim government.
He was appointed shortly after Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani was sworn in as
Iraq's new interim president.
Outgoing Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has resigned, but will continue his work
until Mr Jaafari names his government.
The transitional government's main task will be to oversee the drafting of a
permanent Iraqi constitution and to pave the way for elections in December.
Mr Jaafari, 58, is seen as one of Iraq's most popular political figures.
He has up to a month to name his team, but indicated that he hoped to announce
a new government within two weeks.
IBRAHIM JAAFARI
Born Karbala, 1947
Educated at Mosul university as a medical doctor
Lived in Iran and UK since 1980s
Spokesman for the Islamic Daawa party
Preferred candidate of Shia United Iraqi Alliance
Served as vice-president in US-appointed regime
Profile: Ibrahim Jaafari
"Today represents a big step forward for Iraq and a big responsibility for
me," he said.
The presidential swearing-in ceremony took place before the parliament in the
heavily-fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad.
Mr Talabani's deputies, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a Shia, and the outgoing President,
Ghazi Yawer, a Sunni, have also taken the oath of office.
"We will rebuild the Iraqi government on principles of democracy, human
rights... and the Islamic identity of the Iraqi government," Mr Talabani told
a special session of parliament.
"[It will] preserve the liberty for all, where all the citizens, whether Shia
or Sunni, will be brothers.
Mr Talabani becomes the only non-Arab head of state of a majority Arab country.
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