Ahmed nominated as Kurdish deputy PM

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ERBIL, Iraq, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq confirmed Wednesday that Imad Ahmed has been nominated as the deputy prime minister of its administration.

"Based on a decision by the Politburo of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan at a meeting on Feb. 24, Imad Ahmed has been put forward as candidate for the post of deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government," a KRG statement said.

Ahmed had served as the minister for housing and reconstruction.

Omar Fattah resigned from the deputy premier post earlier this week. The resignation comes in the wake of a shake-up in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

Several leading officials with the PUK withdrew from the party in early February amid allegations of corruption. Some of the departing officials said they would form a rival party to the PUK to run in the parliamentary elections later in the year.

Talabani reached an agreement with other members for their return following a decision by party leaders to guarantee more transparency in the party as well as reforms in the intelligence and security services.