This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8608841.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sadr bloc want Jaafari as Iraq PM Sadr bloc want Jaafari as Iraq PM
(9 minutes later)
The Iraqi political group of radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has rejected both of the front-running candidates for prime minister.The Iraqi political group of radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has rejected both of the front-running candidates for prime minister.
The members of the Sadrist bloc voted for former Interim Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari in a referendum.The members of the Sadrist bloc voted for former Interim Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari in a referendum.
The Sadrist bloc of 40 parliamentary seats could have swung the decision for either Iyad Allawi or Nouri Maliki who lead the two biggest political blocs.The Sadrist bloc of 40 parliamentary seats could have swung the decision for either Iyad Allawi or Nouri Maliki who lead the two biggest political blocs.
The decision means it may take months not weeks to form a government. The decision means government-forming negotiations have become more complex.
The referendum offered a choice of five candidates, all of them Shias - Mr Maliki, Mr Allawi, Mr Jaafari, Vice-President Adel Abdel Mahdi, and Jaafar Mohammed Baqir Sadr, the cousin of Moqtada Sadr and son of the revered Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Sadiq Sadr, who was assassinated during the rule of Saddam Hussein. It may take months, and not weeks, for the parties to form the coalitions necessary to get enough seats to form a governing majority.
The referendum offered a choice of five candidates, all of them Shias - Mr Maliki, Mr Allawi, Mr Jaafari, Vice-President Adel Abdel Mahdi, and Jaafar Mohammed Baqir Sadr, a second cousin of Moqtada Sadr and son of the revered Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Sadiq Sadr, who was assassinated during the rule of Saddam Hussein.
CrushedCrushed
In the informal poll of grass-roots supporters, Mr Maliki came only fourth, with 10% of the votes.In the informal poll of grass-roots supporters, Mr Maliki came only fourth, with 10% of the votes.
The man who heads the coalition which narrowly won the election, Iyad Allawi, came behind Mr Maliki with 9% of the vote.The man who heads the coalition which narrowly won the election, Iyad Allawi, came behind Mr Maliki with 9% of the vote.
Mr Jaafari, a former doctor, headed the American-appointed interim government in 2005.Mr Jaafari, a former doctor, headed the American-appointed interim government in 2005.
He was seen at the time as a popular leader who wanted to unify Sunni and Shia interests.He was seen at the time as a popular leader who wanted to unify Sunni and Shia interests.
He was replaced by Mr Maliki as head of the largest Shia coalition in 2006.He was replaced by Mr Maliki as head of the largest Shia coalition in 2006.
As prime minister, Mr Maliki crushed the military wing of the Sadr organisation, the Mehdi Army, in an offensive during 2008.As prime minister, Mr Maliki crushed the military wing of the Sadr organisation, the Mehdi Army, in an offensive during 2008.
If the Sadrist movement had backed one of the two top contenders their role as kingmakers would have been clear the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Baghdad.If the Sadrist movement had backed one of the two top contenders their role as kingmakers would have been clear the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Baghdad.
The bloc's choice of Mr Jaafari is not likely to be viewed with enthusiasm by other political blocs, our correspondent says.The bloc's choice of Mr Jaafari is not likely to be viewed with enthusiasm by other political blocs, our correspondent says.
It is a month since the general election was concluded.It is a month since the general election was concluded.
None of the political groups won a big enough majority to form a government.None of the political groups won a big enough majority to form a government.
Al-Iraqiyya (Iraqi National Movement): Nationalist bloc led by former PM Iyad Allawi, a secular Shia, includes Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, and senior Sunni politician Saleh al-MutlaqState of Law: Led by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and his Shia Islamist Daawa Party, the alliance purportedly cuts across religious and tribal lines, includes some Sunni tribal leaders, Shia Kurds, Christians and independentsIraqi National Alliance: Shia-led bloc includes followers of the radical cleric, Moqtada Sadr, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, and the Fadhilah Party, along with ex-PM Ibrahim Jaafari and Ahmad ChalabiKurdish alliance: Coalition dominated by the two parties administering Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region - the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, led by President Jalal TalabaniAl-Iraqiyya (Iraqi National Movement): Nationalist bloc led by former PM Iyad Allawi, a secular Shia, includes Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, and senior Sunni politician Saleh al-MutlaqState of Law: Led by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and his Shia Islamist Daawa Party, the alliance purportedly cuts across religious and tribal lines, includes some Sunni tribal leaders, Shia Kurds, Christians and independentsIraqi National Alliance: Shia-led bloc includes followers of the radical cleric, Moqtada Sadr, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, and the Fadhilah Party, along with ex-PM Ibrahim Jaafari and Ahmad ChalabiKurdish alliance: Coalition dominated by the two parties administering Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region - the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, led by President Jalal Talabani