Adnan Pachachi, who had been widely tipped to become Iraq's new president, last night claimed he was forced to turn down the job because of a "shabby conspiracy" led by the Pentagon's disgraced ex-favourite Ahmad Chalabi.
Dr Pachachi, an 81-year-old former diplomat, told the Guardian that Mr Chalabi had sought to wreck his candidacy at the last minute out of "jealousy and personal pique".
Dr Pachachi said the UN's special envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, offered him the job as president last weekend.
This followed weeks of "extensive consultations" with "thousands of Iraqis".
"He called me up and said: 'We have decided'.
"Mr Brahimi told me I had more support than anybody to be president. He said I was by far the most qualified person." However, Mr Brahimi's decision prompted a furious revolt among members of the US-appointed Iraqi governing council, which Dr Pachachi said was instigated by Mr Chalabi and the Kurds.
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more:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1231203,00.html