BAGHDAD, Iraq Apr 7, 2005 — Iraq's presidential council was sworn in Thursday and named Shiite Arab Ibrahim al-Jaafari to the country's most powerful position interim prime minister giving Iraq its first freely elected government in 50 years, and its third set of interim leaders since the U.S.-led invasion.
The session wasn't without its gaffes, however. After his inaugural speech, interim President Jalal Talabani, a Kurdish leader, walked off the stage, returning after most television feeds of the event were cut off to say he had forgotten to name the new prime minister.
Some Shiite lawmakers were angered by the action.
"We hope that they forgot," said Abbas Hassan Mousa al-Bayati, a top member of the Shiite-dominated United Iraqi Alliance. "This happened because of bad management."
Al-Jaafari didn't seem upset, however, telling reporters after the session: "This day represents a democratic process and a step forward."
Al-Jaafari has two weeks to name his Cabinet, allowing the new government to begin work on its primary task: drafting a permanent constitution. If approved, the constitution will pave the way for elections for a permanent government in December.
