Iraqi Coalition nominates Jaafari to preside over the interim government

News reports said that the list of the United Iraqi Coalition chose the spokesman for the Islamic Call party, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, as a candidate for the presidency of the next interim Iraqi government, which means that assuming this post by him has become almost certain.

Members of the coalition in the national assembly ( 140 members) unanimously approved the nomination of al-Jaafari after the withdrawal of his rival Ahmed Chalabi.

Al-Jafaari still faces a challenge from the prime minister of the expired term of office Eyad Allawi, but Allawi's list only got 14% of the votes in the elections for 48% for the Iraqi coalition which wants the post of the prime minister.

However, the interim government should get the confidence of the national assembly with at a least a majority of two thirds from the total number of 275. A rate which no Iraqi list enjoy separately. But the coalition between the Shiite Iraqi coalition and the Kurdish list which occupied 75 seats at the assembly will ensure for the two sides will sharing the main posts in the Interim government.