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Iraqi Shi'ite Coalition Elects Al-Jaafari as Prime Minister
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=10EF6A7:3919ACA He received 64
votes in the caucus of Shi'ite legislators, beating his rival, Vice
President Abel Abdul-Mahdi by one vote





Ibrahim al-Jaafari (File photo)Iraq's ruling Shi'ite alliance has
chosen incumbent Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to head the new
government.

He received 64 votes in the caucus of Shi'ite legislators, beating his
rival, Vice President Abel Abdul-Mahdi by one vote.

The Shi'ite alliance won a majority in Iraq's December legislative
election.  Naming the prime minister is a key step in forming a new
Iraqi government, the nation's first post-Saddam Hussein parliament
with a four-year mandate.

Separately, Iraqi police say at least 12 people were wounded today
when two roadside bombs exploded in quick succession near a restaurant
in central Baghdad.

Also, the U.S. military says insurgents fired a mortar round Sunday
into the heavily fortified Green Zone, home to the U.S. Embassy and
Iraqi government.  There were no reports of casualties.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.


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