Shi’ite parties refuse to back down on choice for Iraqi premier

THE political impasse over Iraq’s new government tightened yesterday as Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari’s party indicated it was standing firm for him to keep the post despite opposition from Sunni Arabs and Kurds.

Ali al-Adeeb, a top official in the Dawa party, said the group would not put forward anyone else as the Shi’ite Muslim nominee for premier unless Mr al-Jaafari decided to step aside.

The announcement pointed to further delays in negotiations to form a broad-based government.