Saddam rebel in exile Jaafari is Iraq PM

Islamist Shi’ite Ibrahim Jaafari was named Iraq’s next Prime Minister on Thursday, moving the country a step closer to its first d...

Islamist Shi’ite Ibrahim Jaafari was named Iraq’s next Prime Minister on Thursday, moving the country a step closer to its first democratically elected government in more than 50 years.

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 Jaafari, who spent more than two decades opposing Saddam Hussein from exile.

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His appointment

to the most powerful post under the interim constitution had long been agreed in principle but was held up by weeks of bargaining over other jobs among the Shi’ite and Kurdish groups that dominate the Parliament elected on January 30. Jaafari is seen as a moderate Islamist, favouring a strong role for Muslim teachings but reaching out to all communities.

US officials say they are confident Iraq will not emulate Shi’ite Iran in establishing an Islamic state hostile to Washington. Jaafari says he 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 that interim PM Iyad Allawi, a secular Shi’ite appointed under US supervision 10 months ago, had resigned but would carry on as a caretaker while Jaafari worked on the finishing touches to his Cabinet line-up. ‘‘I hope within one or two weeks I will name the Cabinet,’’ he said.

Talabani, 71, took the President’s oath of office a day after his election by Parliament. ‘‘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 system,’’ Talabani said. Shi’ite Adel Abdul Mahdi and Sunni Arab tribal elder Ghazi Yawar, previously the interim president, were sworn in as vice-presidents.

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Talabani’s appointment is a landmark for the Kurdish minority, which suffered under Saddam. He also becomes the first non-Arab President of an Arab state.

Efforts are being made to ensure the Sunnis are not frozen out. In a bid to reach out to them, Jaafari said he had ordered an amnesty for Iraqis who had been linked to Saddam’s Baath party, saying they would not face discrimination. The amnesty would not extend to criminals, he said.

In his speech, Talabani reached out to the Sunni Arab minority too, ‘‘It’s about time that our Arab Sunni brothers took part in building the new Iraq and we are very hopeful that they will participate with us in doing so.’’

Many Iraqis have complained that politicians have let them down by taking so long to form a government. Several Iraqi officials say the delay has benefited insurgents. On Thursday, a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle near a US convoy in Tal Afar. Officials said 19 civilians were wounded in the blast. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility. —Reuters