BAGHDAD, March 2: Iraq’s Kurdish, Sunni and secular political groups on Thursday wrote to the main Shia alliance to reject its selection of outgoing prime minister Ibrahim Jaafari to lead the next cabinet, complicating efforts to set up a government of national unity.

“The letter endorsed by the Kurdish alliance, the Sunnis and Iyad Allawi’s group has been sent to the United Iraqi Alliance asking them to review their decision on Jaafari and select another candidate,” senior Iraqi parliamentarian Mahmud Othman said.

Earlier in the day, Mr Othman, a Kurd, said the groups felt Mr Jaafari was the wrong man to lead the next cabinet, the first permanent post-Saddam Hussein government.

“The Kurdish and the Sunni groups think that he (Jaafari) is not appropriate and they cannot form a cabinet with him as he is not neutral,” Mr Othman said.

The move is a latest setback in the tortuous process to form a government in the wake of December general elections. Sunnis last week announced a boycott of the government talks due to a wave of sectarian violence that left hundreds dead.

A string of rebel attacks across Iraq on Thursday killed at least 31 people, including five who died when a car bomb went off in Baghdad’s Sadr City.

Last month, Mr Jaafari was re-selected — by just one vote — for the post of premier by the dominant Shiite alliance which won 128 of parliament’s 275 seats in the December elections.

Mr Jaafari’s selection must be formally endorsed by a new three-member presidential council. But the presidential council must itself be appointed by a two-thirds majority of parliament, which has not yet met.

The constitution stipulates that the prime minister must form his cabinet within 30 days of his appointment, failing which another can be appointed in his place.

Mr Jaafari, a doctor turned politician, now faces a growing opposition campaign.

His candidacy is opposed by two key political factions: the Kurds who are part of the outgoing government coalition and who control 53 seats in the new parliament, and the Sunni alliance known as the National Concord Front which controls 44 parliamentary seats.

Both groups view Jaafari, who has run the government for much of the past year, as unsuccessful, said Othman, who added “they think the experience with him has not been good and may lead to similar problems in future.”

Previously also the Kurds had expressed dissatisfaction with Jaafari’s micro-management style of rule and his tendency to monopolize power.

A leader of the main Sunni-based party confirmed its objection to Jaafari’s candidature.

“We have nothing against him (Jaafari) but his performance has been below expectations,” said Alaa Maki, parliamentarian and senior leader of Islamic Party, which is part of the National Concord Front alliance.

“He was unable to control the security situation... and what has happened in the last few days is a proof of what we have said,” he said referring to a surge in violence across Iraq that has left hundreds dead. —AFP