A Shiite surgeon, who survived a Saddam Hussein ordered assassination attempt in London while in exile, tonight appears set to Iraq’s new prime minister.

Iraq’s US-picked leaders approved a new flag for the country, making a dramatic change that drops the Saddam Hussein-era slogan God is great, changes the colours and introduces symbols of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Two explosions were heard early today in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, a day after simultaneous suicide bombings on Shiite Muslim shrines killed at least 143 people.