Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari Backs Down

This should help as it was a major stumbling block to forming any kind of parliament in Iraq.

Embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari climbed down from his insistence he would lead the next government, saying his fate would be decided by the country's dominant Shiite alliance.

The development came just hours before parliament was to meet for only the second time since a landmark election in December, with leaders still squabbling over top government posts despite international pressure for a rapid accord.

"Jaafari has left the decision about his candidacy with the alliance," said Shiite lawmaker Jawad al-Maliki, a key leader in the conservative Shiite bloc, the United
Iraq Alliance.

"Mr Jaafari told the alliance today that it was up to it to decide whether it feels it is necessary" to have him as the next premier, "which means he is no longer insisting on the post," Maliki told reporters.

"Now it will be the alliance which will decide."