BAGHDAD, April 22 (UPI) -- Kurdish and Sunni leaders have backed the new Shiite nominee for prime minister of Iraq after months of failed talks left politics at a standstill.
Jawad al-Maliki was chosen to replace ally Ibrahim al-Jaafari, whose leadership was questioned during the past two months.
Violence, especially sectarian murders, escalated during this time.
The New York Times reports Maliki is more conservative in views but a more respected statesman than Jaafari. Both are in the Islamic Dawa Party.
Malaki has called for anyone convicted of murder or supporting terrorism in Iraq to be killed, a move seen as a warning to Sunnis.
If Maliki is approved by the general assembly he will be tasked with forming a government, including key ministerial posts.
The Interior Ministry in particular is being watched, as its forces are accused of carrying out extra-judicial kidnapping and murders as part of Shiite militias.
Maliki was born in Iraq but fled to Iran and then Syria after being threatened by Saddam Hussein.
He returned on the coattails of U.S.-led forces in the 2003 invasion.
