Shias to be told to field more candidates for premier post

The Sunni Arab bloc in Iraq’s parliament remains opposed to a new term for Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and will ask the Shiites to present new names for consideration for the top government post, a Sunni spokesman said today.

The statement by spokesman Dhafir al-Ani was issued after Kurdish politicians also reaffirmed their opposition to al-Jaafari. That leaves the Shiites little choice but to reconsider their nominee if the deadlock over formation of a new government can be overcome.