Governing Council Head Serves As Intirim President

Head Of Iraqi Governing Council To Serve As Interim President -- Un Envoy

United Nations Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi announced today that Sheikh Ghazi Al-Yawar, the current head of Iraq's Governing Council, will be President of the interim government that will take over from the United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) at the end of the month.

That position had been offered to former Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi but he declined for personal reasons, said Mr. Brahimi, who has been in the country since early May meeting with a broad spectrum of Iraqis to help them agree on the administration that will inherit sovereignty on 30 June and guide the country until elections are held in January 2005.

He also announced the appointment of Ibrahim Jaafari and Rowsch Shaways as deputy presidents.

Mr. Brahimi said he had given his recommendations for the composition of the Cabinet to Prime Minister Designate Ayad Allawi, who was named on Friday. Mr. Allawi is expected to announce those later today.

The envoy noted that his month-long consultations have involved the Governing Council, the CPA and "a very large number of representatives of the public, including political parties, professional associations, trade unions, tribal and religious leaders, academics and intellectuals, women's and youth organizations, and others."

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