THE REPUBLICAN WAR?:

Iraqi Shiites Expected to Announce Jafari as Prime Minister (Challiss McDonough, 16 February 2005, VOA News)

At this point, interim Vice President Ibrahim Jafari looks likely to become Iraq's next prime minister, with Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani as president.

In an interview with VOA last week, Mr. Jafari said he hopes to reach out to other groups and include them in both the government and the drafting of the constitution.

"The next government's priority will be striking a balance between the Shia and the Sunni and the other ethnic groups here in Iraq," he said. "The new government will be inclusive, and we will concentrate on opening a dialogue between all the ethnic and sectarian groups."

Mr. Jafari said Sunni Arabs are a major component of Iraqi society and should be included at the highest levels of government.