BAGHDAD, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Iraq's Shiite United Iraqi Alliance Sunday barely voted in favor of Ibrahim Jaafari as its candidate as the next prime minister.
Head of the alliance, Abdul Aziz Hakim, told a news conference that outgoing Prime Minister Jaafari was chosen in a secret ballot among the 128-member parliamentary bloc.
He said the voting among the alliance, which includes 15 political and religious Shiite parties, was conducted in an "atmosphere of calm, transparency and brotherhood."
Other officials from the Shiite alliance said Jaafari received 64 votes, while his competitor, current Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi, grabbed 63 votes from his peers.
Sunday's voting came a day after the parliamentary bloc failed to reach an agreement to choose its candidate to serve as prime minister for the next four years without resorting to a vote.
Hakim said his bloc will immediately begin consultations with all Iraqi forces to form the next government.
On his part, Jaafari told reporters that consultations will be conducted on the basis of "Iraq's higher interests and we have plans for the government to rebuild the Iraqi home."
He said the alliance's priorities for the new government include restoring security in the war-torn country and rebuilding the devastated economy.
Shiite officials said the elected 275-member Parliament is expected to convene within ten days and hoped the new government will be formed within two months.
