By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
The Associated Press
Friday, April 21, 2006; 1:53 PM
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Shiite politicians agreed Friday to nominate Jawad al-Maliki as prime minister, replacing the incumbent in a bid to clear the way for a long-delayed new government, two Shiite officials said.
Al-Maliki is a top ally of outgoing Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari, whose nomination had sparked sharp opposition from Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders and caused a deadlock lasting months.
With the deal on al-Maliki, Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties also agreed on nominees to fill the other top posts of government, to be presented to parliament for approval on Saturday, Shiite lawmaker Ridha Jawad Taqi said.
Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, would remain as president for a second term, with Sunni Arab Tareq al-Hashemi and Shiite Adil Abdel-Madi would hold the two vice president spots, he said.
Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a Sunni, would become parliament speaker with two deputies _ Khalid Attiya, a Shiite, and Aref Tayfour, a Kurd.