Iraqis condemn 'meddling' US in presidential row

Iraqi Governing Council members accused American officials of pressuring them to accept Washington’s choice for the country’s new president, delaying the announcement of a new government to take power on June 30.

United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi had hoped to complete the selection of the 26-member Cabinet by yesterday. But a governing council session that was to have chosen a president was postponed until at least today, with sharp differences remaining between the council and the coalition over the largely ceremonial head-of-state job.