Kurdish leader is named new Iraqi president

The Iraqi Parliament has elected former rebel leader and Kurdish politician Jelal Talabani as president. Shiite leader Adel Abdul Mehdi and Sunni leader Gazi El Yaver will take their places by his side as vice-presidents. With Talabani's election, it is the first time in history in Iraq or any other Arab countries that an Iraqi-Kurd has become president.
The election of a non-Arab to the presidency of an Arab country has begun to attract press attention. In France, the Liberation newspaper has written that, despite the presidency being a more symbolic position than the prime minstership, Talabani is hoping to try and make Iraq more of a federal government, and in doing so will put more attention on the Kurdish dominated area of Kerkuk.