Sources close to Sadr Group and Al-Fadhila Party agree that Vice-President Adel Abdulmahdi has now a good chance to become PM. Both sides have begun talks with UIA President Abdulaziz Hakim to agree with him about their share of power. Hakim is offering to give the post of 1st deputy PM to Sadr Group, and the post of 1st Vice-President to Al-Fadhila Party. Meanwhile, sources close to Sadr Group say the group, which won 29 seats in the recent elections, is demanding to take over three portfolios in the new government, including notably the Public Works. The group will refuse to head any ministry run by US experts. It will oppose any US interference in the work of Iraqi ministries, especially that of Oil, Defence and Interior. On the other hand, pro-US Iraqi sources say US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalizad told PM Ibrahim Jaafari that Washington will stop helping the Ministries of Defence, Interior and National Security if pro-Iranian Shiite ministries take them over.
Iraq Information Report - January 27, 2006 - 7th Year, No 7/757