Ja'fari Holds the Premiership (Nomination)

Abdul Razzak al-Hashimi, spokesman for outgoing prime minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari, affirmed that he is the only United Iraqi Alliance nominee for the premiership (in the new government.) He said no party (within the bloc) has officially asked Ja'fari to step aside and that Ja'fari was nominated in line with the alliance's bylaws. Adnan Ali, a member of (Ja'fari's) Da'wa party and adviser to the prime minister, said no other candidates had been nominated for the post because the alliance has not asked him to step aside. (Several political blocs oppose Ja'fari's nomination, which has stalled formation of the new government.)