Iraq Shiite lawmakers begin voting on new prime minister
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-12 17:15

Shiite lawmakers began voting Sunday for their choice to be the new prime minister after two of the four contenders withdrew from the race.

More than 100 lawmakers from the Shiite coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance, gathered at the heavily guarded offices of Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the main Shiite party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Shiite officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, said nuclear scientist Hussain al-Shahrastani and Nadim al-Jabiri have withdrawn their candidacies for the top post.

This leaves the choice between current Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, of the Dawa Party, and Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi, of SCIRI.

Under the constitution, the new president will designate the alliance's choice as the new prime minister after parliament convenes.