Shiite leaders from the powerful United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) have failed to decide the fate of Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari. Kurds and Sunni Arabs have rejected his candidacy to head the next government, a key sticking point holding up its formation almost four months after elections, forcing the Shiites to meet to decide his fate. But Bassem Sharif, spokesman of the Fadhila Party, says the Shiite alliance leaders broke up the talks aimed at resolving the political impasse until Wednesday (local time). Mr Sharif says the secularists led by former premier Iyad Allawi "had reservations about the programs of the alliance and not about Jaafari himself". Mr Allawi's group had also rejected Mr Jaafari's candidacy. As the deadlock continues, an adamant Mr Jaafari is refusing to budge, reaffirming his position that only Parliament could now decide his fate. "I have a principle that I will accept what our people decide," he said. "I was elected democratically by the people and I do not see power as a personal gain but a reward to be given to the people."
The dominant UIA, which won 128 out of 275 parliament seats in the December election, chose Mr Jaafari by a single vote in February but his nomination has faced stiff resistance amid accusations he failed to quell violence. The alliance lacks the overall majority in parliament needed to push through a nomination for prime minister on its own.