The Hindu : International : Chalabi withdraws from race

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

International

International

Chalabi withdraws from race

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, FEB. 22. Iraq's main Shia alliance, which won an absolute majority of seats in last month's elections, has named Ibrahim Jaafari as its Prime Ministerial candidate.

Mr. Jaafari, who belongs to the Al-Dawa party, had earlier emerged as the frontrunner for the post of Premier. However, Ahmed Chalabi, who has had the support from a section of the U.S. establishment, was seen as a challenger. But Mr. Chalabi withdrew his candidacy on Tuesday and the 140 members of the United Iraqi Alliance approved Mr. Jaafari as their choice during a meeting in Baghdad, reports say.

Theoretically, Mr. Jaafari still faces a challenge from the interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi. But Mr. Allawi's Iraqiya slate, which won only 14 per cent of the votes during the polls, has considerably weakened his hand.

The UIA has won 140 seats but still needs partners to form a government, as Iraqi law prescribes that a two-thirds majority is necessary to form a government. The UIA can muster these seats in case it manages to cobble together an alliance with the Kurdish parties.

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