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Iraqis Chafe at U.S. Block on Choice of PresidentMon May 31, 2004 01:59 PM ET By Tom Perry BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi leaders were dismayed by the United States and United Nations Monday blocking their choice of a president to replace Saddam Hussein when the U.S. occupation authority is wound up in a month's time. Deadlock set in Sunday after a prime minister and key cabinet posts were broadly agreed. Iraqi politicians said U.S. officials asked the Iraqi Governing Council to put off further talks on filling the largely ceremonial post of head of state. The Council was next...

This story was printed from channelnewsasia.com Title : Sunni Muslims in struggle for Iraq presidency, truce shaky By : Date : 31 May 2004 0121 hrs (SST) URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/87646/1/.html BAGHDAD : Two senior Sunni Muslims were competing to become Saddam Hussein's successor as president of Iraq, as an interim government took shape and fresh violence broke out in the holy city of Najaf. Iraqi politicians and US officials locked horns over whether Ghazi al-Yawar, the chair of the Governing Council, or elder statesman Adnan Pachachi would take on the largely ceremonial post of president. "They want to impose...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi leaders are wrangling over who should succeed Saddam Hussein as president after they agreed on other key posts in the new government that will take power next month from the U.S. occupation authority. With the top post of prime minister filled and consensus on key ministries, Iraqi officials spoke on Sunday of sharp disagreement on the largely ceremonial choice of head of state between Adnan Pachachi, veteran scion of a pre-Saddam political dynasty, and Ghazi Yawar, a youthful engineer long based in Saudi Arabia. U.S. and U.N. officials may now be ready to propose a third...