Shiite list to announce candidate for Iraq PM

BAGHDAD, Feb 22 (AFP) - The candidate for prime minister chosen by the Shiite Muslim religious list that won Iraq's elections last month will be announced Tuesday.
"A press conference will be held at 5:00 pm (1400 GMT) to announce the name of the candidate," said Haytham al-Husseini, an official from the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), one of the main parties on the list.
He did not specify whether an agreement had been reached or if the issue had to be put to a vote.
The United Iraqi Alliance, backed by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, secured more than half of the seats in parliament and is widely expected to clinch the country's top job.
The coalition includes several Shiite heavyweights, but so far Vice President and Dawa party leader Ibrahim Jaafari has been the frontrunner for the post of prime minister.
However, maverick secular politician Ahmed Chalabi has challenged him and SCIRI's Finance Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi is also seen as a contender.

02/22/2005 12:55 GMT - AFP