In a major step towards forming a new government, Iraq's parliament has appointed veteran Kurdish politician Mr Jalal Talabani as its new president after weeks of haggling.
Mr Adel Abdul Mahdi, a Shia who was finance minister in the outgoing government, and Sunni Arab tribal leader Mr Ghazi Yawar, the previous president, have been selected as vice presidents.
The Islamist-led Shia alliance that won a slim majority in parliament and the Kurdish coalition that came second in the polls have been arguing for weeks about forming a government.
They have also been trying to include representatives of the Sunni Arab minority that dominated Iraq under Saddam Hussein but was left sidelined after most Sunni Arabs stayed away from the January 30 polls due to intimidation and calls for a boycott. There are only 17 Sunni Arab lawmakers in the 275-member parliament.
Disagreement over which Sunni Arab would be vice president held up a deal, but political leaders said late yesterday that Yawar had been chosen over elder statesman Adnan Pachachi.
Once the presidential council is appointed it must name a prime minister within two weeks. Shias and Kurds have agreed that Islamist Shia leader Ibrahim Jaafari will be prime minister, taking over from secular Shia Iyad Allawi.
Jaafari is expected to be officially appointed tomorrow, and will then name a cabinet. Disagreement remains on some cabinet posts, particularly the oil ministry which is coveted by both the Shias and the Kurds.
Many Iraqis have complained that politicians have let them down by taking so long to form a government. Several Iraqi officials say the delay has benefited Iraq's insurgents.