Shi'ite rivals say Bush wants Iraq PM Jaafari out

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAR857001.htm

Shi'ite rivals say Bush wants Iraq PM Jaafari out

BAGHDAD, March 28 (Reuters) - A senior Iraqi politician from a rival Shi'ite party to Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said on Tuesday U.S. President George W. Bush had made clear he did not want Jaafari to lead a new government of national unity.

The U.S. embassy denied any such position and insisted Washington would not interfere in Iraqis' choices.

Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad is at the heart of increasingly urgent U.S. efforts to break deadlock among the Shi'ites and minority Sunnis and Kurds, who oppose Jaafari.

Iraqi political sources have said for some time they believe the United States opposes Jaafari, who secured Shi'ite support for a second term only with the help of Iranian-backed cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Rival Shi'ites are also considering deserting Jaafari, sources within the Shi'ite Alliance bloc have said.

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