UIA sources confirm that Vice-President Ibrahim Jaafari and INC leader Ahmad Chalabi are still competing against each other for the Premiership, while SCIRI has withdrawn Finance Minister Adel Abdulmahdi from the race at the request of Iran. Meanwhile, sources close to Jaafari assert that he will become PM, while PUK leader Jalal Talbani will take over the Presidency and current President Ghazi Al-Yawar the Chairmanship of the National Assembly. KDP leader Massoud Barzani will take over the Premiership of Iraqi Kurdistan, while Hoshiar Zibari will remain Foreign Minister and Adel Abdulmahdi Finance Minister. As for Allawi, sources close to him believe that he still has a chance of retaining his job.
Iraq Information Report - February 18, 2005 - 6 th Year, № 6/618