Iraq's Shiites, Kurds agree on presidency council line up

BAGHDAD - Iraq's winning Shiite and Kurdish lists picked Sunni Arab Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar for vice president, finalising the line-up of a three-man presidency to be approved by parliament Wednesday, Shiite and Kurdish leaders told AFP.
"Ghazi al-Yawar will be nominated vice president tomorrow," said deputy speaker Hussein Shahrastani of the outgoing head of state.
"The Kurdish and (Shiite) alliance lists accepted Ghazi Yawar."
Kurdish negotiator and outgoing foreign minister Hoshyar al-Zebari also confirmed the Shiites and Kurds had reached agreement late Tuesday after receiving lists of candidates for vice president from Sunni groups.
Yawar's nomination put an end to wrangling over the all important presidential council that will have Kurdish former rebel leader Jalal Talabani as president and Shiite Islamist Adel Abdel Mahdi as the other vice president.

04/05/2005 17:56 GMT